AN 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH 


TRINITY  CHURCH, 

NEW-YORK. 


REV.  WILLIAM  BERRIAN,  D.  D. 


THE    RECTOROF    THE    SAME 


ftetofjork : 
STANFORD  AND  SWORDS,  139,  BROADWAY. 

1847. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1847,  by 

WILLIAM  BERRIAN,  D.  D. 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Southern  District  of 

New-York. 


John  R.  M'Gown,  Printer. 


'PREFACE. 


The  present  volume  will  have,  perhaps,  hut  slight  claims  to  general 
attention,  while,  at  the  same  time,  it  may  he  hy  no  means  deficient  in 
local  interest.  The  minuteness  of  detail  into  which  it  was  thought 
expedient  to  enter,  in  order  to  give  a  full  and  perfect  history  of  Trinity 
Church,  may  make  it  wearisome  to  those  who  are  altogether  uncon- 
nected with  it.  This  very  circumstance,  however,  will  probably 
render  it  still  more  acceptable  to  the  actual  members  of  our  ancient 
Parish  ;  to  those  who  have  been  nurtured  in  it,  but  who  are  now 
scattered  abroad  among  the  churches  which  have  sprung  from  it ;  to 
the  descendants  of  those  who  formerly  belonged  to  it ;  and  to  such 
others  also,  as  delight  in  antiquarian  research,  and  take  pride  in  the 
growth  and  improvement  of  their  native  place.  It  is  only  necessary 
to  add,  that  the  materials  for  this  work  were  derived  from  a  great 
variety  of  authentic  sources,  but  principally  from  the  Proceedings  of 
the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  Smith's 
History  of  New-York,  Hawkins'  Missions  of  the  Church  of  England, 
the  Minutes  of  the  Vestry  from  the  foundation  of  the  Parish  to  the 
present  time,  and  from  my  own  recollections  for  nearly  half  a  century. 


15G9CC8 


HISTORY 


OP 


TRINITY  CHURCH. 


CHAPTER  I. 


The  opening  of  the  new  edifice  for  public  worship, 
shortly  after  its  consecration,  seemed  to  me  a  suitable 
occasion  for  giving  an  historical  sketch  of  Trinity 
Church.  In  rising,  for  the  first  time,  to  address  the 
vast  multitude,  with  which  this  solemn  and  stately 
temple  was  thronged,  I  was  affected  with  feelings 
which  I  could  not  express.  That  I  had  been  spared 
to  see  that  day,  I  regarded  as  an  especial  reason  for 
thankfulness  to  God  $  for  how  many,  who  desired  it, 
had  looked  forward  impatiently  for  the  completion  of 
the  work,  but  died  before  it !  This  spot  was  to  me, 
as  to  them,  endeared  by  the  holiest  and  tenderest 
recollections.  There  I  had  worshipped  in  youth, 
there  I  had  ministered  in  manhood,  and  there  I  ap- 


10 


HISTORY   OF 


peared  again  before  the  congregation,  on  the  verge 
of  old  age.  There  the  few  of  the  scanty  remnant 
which  was  left  when  I  began  my  ministry  among 
them,  and  whose  recollections  in  some  cases  went 
back  much  farther  than  my  own,  had  once  more 
presented  themselves  amidst  a  new  generation,  and 
may  have  felt  on  the  occasion  more  deeply  than 
myself. 

With  such  associations  and  feelings,  it  may  well 
be  supposed  that  the  work  in  which  I  was  engaged 
was  to  me  a  labour  of  love,  and  in  the  course  of 
my  inquiries  it  grew  upon  my  hands,  both  in  interest 
and  extent,  far  beyond  either  my  thoughts  or  my 
designs. 

It  is  well  known  to  those  who  are  familiar 
with  our  colonial  history,  that  the  province  of  New- 
York  was  settled  by  the  Dutch,  shortly  after  its 
discovery  by  Hudson,  in  1609.  In  the  following 
year,  a  few  stations  were  formed  in  various  parts 
of  it,  and  in  1620  a  settlement  was  made  on  a 
larger  scale,  when  the  district  was  called  New 
Netherlands,  and  the  principal  cluster  of  houses, 
on  the  site  of  a  town  which  now  contains  nearly 
400,000  inhabitants,  was  named  New  Amsterdam. 
In  the  reign  of  Charles  the  Second,  1661,  and 
during  the  war  with  Holland,  the  province  was 
taken  possession  of  by  the  English,  while  under 
the  administration  of  Governor  Stuyvesant,  and  being 
granted  to  the  Duke  of  York,  received  the  name 
which  it  has  since  borne.  In  1673,  however,  through 
the  treachery  of  Manning,  an  English  officer,  it  was 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  11 

• 

delivered    up   again   to   the   Dutch.      But   the  new 
governor  only  enjoyed   his   office   for   a   very   short 
season,  for  the   province    was   finally   ceded  to   the 
English  by   the    treaty  of  peace   between  England 
and  the  States  General,  in  1674,  and  Sir   Edmond 
Andross   was  appointed    governor.      Wherever   the 
conquests   and   settlements  of    our   mother   country 
have  extended,  she  has  at  all  times  shown  a  laudable 
anxiety  that  the  religion  of  the   country  should  go 
with    them.      "  The    members    of    the    Protestant 
Episcopal  Church    (then   known   as   the  Church  of 
England    in    America)    first    held    stated    religious 
services  in  this  city   in  a  chapel  erected   in   a  fort 
which  stood  near  the  battery.      In  this  place,  under 
the  Dutch  administration,  the  service  of  the  Church 
of   Holland    had    been    performed.      On    the    first 
surrendery   of   the    colony    of  New-York    to    the 
British,    in    1664,    the    service    of    the    Church    of 
England  (it  being  a  government  establishment)  was 
of  course  introduced."*      The   congregation,    how- 
ever, increasing,  a  larger  edifice  was  needed,  but  no 
steps    were    taken   towards   the    erection    of  it    for 
several  years.     Colonel  Fletcher,  the  newly  appointed 
governor  of  the  colony,  was  one  of  the  first  who 
moved   in   this   business.      As   the   greatest   part  of 
this  province  consisted  of  Dutch  inhabitants,  all  the 
governors   thereof,   as   well   in  the   Duke  of  York's 
time  as  after  the  revolution,  thought  it  good  policy 
to  encourage  English  preachers  and  school-masters 

*  Christian  Journal,  Vol.  ii.  p.  249. 


12  HISTORY    OF 

• 

in  the  colony.  For  this  commendable  zeal,  Colonel 
Fletcher  has  been  reviled  and  denounced  by  Smith, 
one  of  the  earliest  writers  of  the  history  of  New- 
York,  as  a  bigot  to  the  Episcopal  form  of  Church 
government.  But  as  he  had  declared,  at  a  meeting 
of  the  Colonial  Assembly,  that  he  would  take  care 
that  neither  heresy,  sedition,  schism,  or  rebellion 
should  be  preached  among  them,  nor  vice  and  pro- 
fanity encouraged  ;  so  he  earnestly  laboured  to  carry 
out  his  purposes  to  good  effect.  His  measures  were 
violently  opposed  by  many  of  the  members,  and 
even  by  some  from  whom  a  different  course  might 
have  been  reasonably  expected.  For  it  was  at  this 
session,  on  the  12th  of  April,  1695,  that,  upon  a 
petition  of  five  churchwardens  and  vestrymen  of  the 
city  of  New- York,  the  house  declared  it  to  be 
their  opinion,  that  the  vestrymen  and  churchwardens 
have  power  to  call  a  dissenting  Protestant  minister, 
and  that  he  is  to  be  paid  and  maintained  as  the  act 
directs.  This  was  a  looseness  of  opinion,  on  the 
part  of  the  Episcopalians  concerned,  which  must 
astonish  sound  Churchmen,  and  which  would  have 
been  abundantly  lax  for  the  most  latitudinarian 
among  us  at  the  present  day.  But  through  the  juster 
notions  of  others,  and  the  persevering  zeal  and  firm- 
ness of  the  governor,  things  were  soon  put  in  a  better 
train.* 

*  It  is  very  possible,  however,  that  the  five  wardens  and  vestry- 
men of  the  city  of  New-York  referred  to,  might  not  have  been 
members  of  the  Church  of  England.  For  it  appears,  by  the 
following   act   of  the   Colonial    Assembly,   for   settling   a   ministry, 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  13 

In  the  fifth  year  of  the  reign  of  William  and 
Mary,   1697,  hy  an  act  of  Assembly,  approved  and 

and  raising  a  maintenance  for  them  in  the  city  of  New- York, 
County  of  Richmond,  Westchester,  and  Queen's  County,  passed  the 
22d  of  September,  1693,  that  there  were  other  persons  in  New- 
York  bearing  the  titles  of  Churchwardens  and  Vestrymen,  besides 
those  of  Trinity  Church. 

"  Whereas,  profaneness  and  licentiousness  hath  of  late  over- 
spread this  province,  for  the  want  of  a  settled  ministry  throughout 
the  same  :  To  the  end  the  same  may  be  removed,  and  the  ordinances 
of  God  duly  administered  ; 

I.  Be  it  enacted,  by  the  Governor,  and  Council,  and  Repre- 
sentatives convened  in  General  Assembly,  and  by  the  authority 
of  the  same,  That  in  each  of  the  respective  cities  and  counties 
hereafter  mentioned  and  expressed,  there  shall  be  called,  inducted, 
and  established,  a  good  sufficient  Protestant  minister,  to  officiate, 
and  have  the  care  of  souls,  within  one  year  next,  and  after  the 
publication  hereof,  that  is  to  say :  In  the  city  of  New- York  one, 
&c.  &c. 

II.  And  for  their  respective  encouragement,  Be  it  further  enacted 
by  the  authority  aforesaid,  That  there  shall  be  annually,  and  once 
in  every  year,  in  every  of  the  respective  cities  and  counties  afore- 
said, assessed,  levied,  collected,  and  paid,  for  the  maintenance  of 
each  of  their  respective  ministers,  the  respective  sums  hereafter 
mentioned;  For  the  city  and  county  of  New- York,  one  hundred 
pounds,  &c.  &c. 

III.  And  for  the  more  orderly  raising  the  respective  maintenances 
for  the  ministers  aforesaid,  Be  it  further  enacted,  That  the  respec- 
tive justices  of  every  city  and  county  aforesaid,  or  any  two  of 
them,  shall  every  year  issue  out  their  warrants  to  the  constables, 
to  summons  the  freeholders  of  every  city,  county,  and  precinct 
aforesaid,  together,  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  January,  for  the 
choosing  of  Ten  Vestrymen  and  Two  Churchwardens ;  and  the 
said  Justices  and  Vestrymen,  or  major  part  of  them,  are  hereby 
impowered,  within  ten  days  after  the  said  day,  or  any  day  after,  as 


14  HISTORY    OF 

ratified  by  and  with  the  consent  and  authority  of 
the  governor  of  the  province,  a  royal  grant  and 
confirmation  were  made  of  a  certain  church  and 
steeple,  lately  built  in  the  city  of  New- York, 
together  with  a  certain  piece  or  parcel  of  ground 
adjoining  thereunto,  being  in  or  near  to  a  street 
without  the  north  gate  of  the  said  city,  commonly 
called  and  known  by  the  name  of  Broadway.  The 
title  which  was  given  to  the  church  by  the  original 
charter,  is  the  same  which  it  bears  at  the  present 
day  —  the  Parish  of  Trinity  Church.  Means  were 
appointed  by  it  for  the  support  of  the  Rector. 
The  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  were  duly  consti- 
tuted, and  particularly  named ;  comprising  several 
members  of  his  majesty's  council,  and  as  it  would 
seem,  some  of  the  most  respectable  inhabitants  in 
the  province. 

Among  them  were  the  names  of  Colonel  Caleb 
Heathcote,  an  ancestor  of  Dr.  Delancey,  Bishop  of 
the  Western  Diocese  of  New-York;  of  Emott, 
Clarke,  Morris,  Read,  and  Ludlow,  so  familiar  to 
our  ears  at  the  present  day.  These,  with  the  Bishop 
of  London  for  their  Rector,  were  established  a  body 
corporate   and   politic,   with  all    the   privileges    and 

to  them  shall  seem  convenient,  to  lay  a  reasonable  tax  on  the  said 
respective  cities,  counties,  parish,  or  precincts,  for  the  maintenance 
of  the  minister  and  poor  of  their  respective  places;  and  if  they 
shall  neglect  to  issue  their  warrants,  so  as  the  election  be  not 
made  that  day,  they  shall  respectively  forfeit  five  pounds  current 
money  of  this  province,"  &c.  &c. — Laws  of  New- York,  Vols.  1 
and  2,  folio  ed.,  1774,  pp.  18,  19. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK. 


15 


powers  usually  pertaining  unto  the  same.  This 
appointment  of  the  Bishop  of  London,  as  Rector, 
who  could  not  actually  fulfil  the  duties  of  the  office, 
was  a  mere  temporary  arrangement,  in  order  to 
provide  the  corporation  with  a  head,  essential  to  its 
due  organization,  if  not  to  its  existence.* 

In  1705,  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Ann,  a  grant 
was  made  to  the  corporation  of  Trinity  Church  by 
deed  patent,  signed  by  Lord  Cornbury,  who  was  at 
that  time  governor  of  the  province,  of  a  tract  of 
land  then  called  the  Queen's  farm,  now  the  Church 
farm,  lying  on  the  west  side  of  Mannahata  Island, 
and  extending  from  St.  Paul's  Chapel  northwardly 
along  the  river  to  Skinner  road,  now  Christopher 
street.  This  property,  which  was  then  literally  what 
it  was  called,  a  farm,  and  which  was  comparatively 
of  little  value,  has  long  since  become  a  compact  part 


*  Wardens  and    Vestrymen  appointed    by  the    Charter   of   Trinity 
Church.  — 1697.       'J  he  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  Rector. 

Thomas  Wenham  and  )  The  first  Church  Wardens  of  the  said 

Robert  Lurting               )  parish. 

Caleb  Heathcote,  Michael  Howden, 

William  Merret,  John  Crooke, 

John  Tudor,  William  Sharpas, 

James  Emott,  Lawrence  Read, 

William  Morris,  David  Jamison, 

Thomas  Clarke,  William  Hudleston, 

Ebenezer  Wilson,  Gabriel  Ludlow, 

Samuel  Burt,  Thomas  Burroughs, 

James  Evets,  John  Merret,  and 

Nathaniel  Marston,  William  Jane  way, 

The  first  Vestrymen  of  the  said  parish. 


16  HISTORY    OF 

of  the  city.  Even  now,  however,  from  a  large  pro- 
portion of  it  having  been  put  out  on  long  leases,  at 
mere  nominal  rents,  it  is  much  less  productive  than 
has  been  generally  supposed. 

As  soon  as  the  charter  was  procured,  the  most 
active  measures  were  taken  for  carrying  on  the 
building  of  the  church.  Provision  had  been  made 
for  this  purpose  in  the  instrument  itself.  It  was 
there  ordained  and  declared,  that  the  Church  War- 
dens and  Vestrymen,  or  any  eleven  or  more  of  them 
should  make,  or  cause  to  be  made,  an  estimate  in 
writing,  under  the  hand  or  hands  of  some  sufficient 
person  or  persons  qualified  for  the  same,  of  the 
charge  and  finishing  the  said  church  and  steeple, 
and  providing  a  clock  and  one  or  more  bells  for  the 
same,  and  other  works  necessary  and  requisite  in 
and  about  the  said  church  and  steeple,  and  of  build- 
ing a  convenient  house  for  the  Rector.  And  such 
sum  or  sums  of  money  as  should  appear  to  them, 
upon  such  estimate,  to  be  in  their  judgment  com- 
petent to  accomplish  the  premises,  were  to  be 
charged  upon  all  and  every  of  the  inhabitants  in  the 
said  parish  to  be  by  them  paid  in  seven  years,  by 
twenty-eight  quarterly  and  successive  payments. 
And  the  said  Churchwardens  and  Vestrymen  were 
required  and  authorized  to  assess,  tax,  and  rate  all 
these  quarterly  payments,  as  they  should  think  most 
reasonable,  equal,  and  meet  $  all  which  assessments 
should  be  confirmed  and  allowed  by  two  justices  of 
the  peace  within  the  said  parish,  and  in  communion 
of  the  said  church  as  aforesaid,  under  their  hands  and 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK. 


17 


seals,  and  be  collected  by  such  persons  as  the  said 
Vestrymen  should  from  time  to  time  appoint. 

The  estate  of  the  Corporation,  at  that  time,  was 
totally  unproductive.  The  English  inhabitants,  in  the 
infancy  of  the  province,  were  few  in  number,  and 
scanty  in  means.  But  what  was  lacking  in  ability 
was  abundantly  supplied  by  activity  and  zeal.  A 
committee  of  the  Vestry  was  appointed,  consisting 
of  Major  William  Merret,  Mr.  Thomas  Clarke, 
Captain  William  Morris,  and  Captain  Tudor,  (absent 
in  the  service,)  who,  on  the  28th  of  June,  1697, 
made  a  return,  that  according  to  order,  they  had 
spent  a  day  in  getting  subscriptions  and  in  collec- 
ting money  for  erecting  Trinity  Church.  The 
members  of  the  corporation  generally  encouraged 
the  good  work  also  by  their  own  example,  not  only 
in  the  cheerful  payment  of  their  lawful  dues,  but  by 
their  free  will  offerings. # 

*  Mr.  James  Emott  presented  four  pistoles  as  a  voluntary  gift. 

Mr.  Benjamin  Aske, £1  19" 

Capt.  Thomas  Wenham, 5 

Mr.  Robert  Lurting, 3 

William  Merret,  Esq 5 

Mr.  James  Evets, 1 

Mr.  Michael  Howden, 3 

Mr.  Nathaniel  Marston, 1 

Mr.  Thomas  Burroughs, 2  "    >    As  free  gifts. 

Mr.  William  Janeway, 3 

Capt.  William  Morris, 2 

Mr.  William  Hudleston, 2 

Mr.  Gabriel  Ludlow, 2 

Mr.  John  Crooke, 2 

Capt.  Ebenezer  Wilson, 2 

Mr.  William  Sharpas, 1 

On  two  subsequent*  occasions  several  of  these  persons  contributed 

respectively  from  three  to  five  pounds. 


18  HISTORY   OF 

A  special  subscription  was  afterwards  set  on  foot 
for  the  building  of  the  steeple.  The  names  of  the 
subscribers,  the  most  of  which  are  familiar  to  us  at 
the  present  day,  and  the  amount  of  their  contributions, 
are  all  recorded  in  the  book  of  minutes.  The  sum 
total  collected  was  £312  13s.  7d.,  together  with 
£5  12s.  3dL,  a  contribution  from  the  Jews.  This 
curious  paper,  which  it  is  thought  will  be  looked  over 
by  many  with  some  degree  of  interest,  will  be  found 
in  the  appendix  A. 

The  subscriptions,  though  small,  were  doubtless 
according  to  the  ability  of  the  donors,  and  they 
must  also  be  regarded  in  reference  to  the  relative 
value  of  money  at  that  period  and  the  present. 
While  some  gave  of  their  means,  for  the  promotion 
of  this  object,  others,  as  it  would  seem,  cheerfully 
bestowed  their  labour  and  their  time.  A  curious 
instance  of  this  is  entered  in  the  minutes  of  the 
Vestry : 

Ordered.  That  Mr.  Sam1  Burte  do  goe  down  to  Huntington 
with  all  expedition,  and  purchase  all  the  Oyster  Shell  Lime  he 
can  get  there,  not  to  exceed  the  rate  of  8  or  9  shillings  pr  Loade 
for  the  use  of  the  Church ;  and  that  his  expences  in  travelling  and 
horse  be  defrayed  out  of  the  Publick  Stock,  he  desiring  nothing 
for  his  time  or  trouble. 

Colonel  Peter  Schuyler  having  subscribed  five  pounds  to  the 
church,  to  be  paid  in  boards,  it  was  ordered  that  Captain  Thomas 
Wenham  should  write  to  him  to  send  the  same  in  such  boards  as 
Mr.  Evets  should  direct. 

The  governor  of  the  province  sent  to  the  church  twenty-five 
pounds,  and  Chidley  Brooke,  Esq.  thirty  pounds. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  19 

Another  singular  expedient  was  adopted  with  a 
view  to  increase  more  effectually  their  limited  means. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Vestry,  held  on  the  6th  of 
August,  1697:— 

Ordered,  That  there  be  a  petition  drawn  for  the  money  that 
was  collected  for  the  Slaves  in  Sally,  and  in  case  that  it  was  not 
disposed  for  that  use,  then  to  be  dispos'd  for  other  Pious  uses  as 
his  Excellency  and  Council  should  think  fitt ;  and  the  same  to 
be  delivered  to  his  Excel,  by  Mr.  Mayor  and  Capt.  Tho.  Wenham. 

It  was  likewise 

Ordered,  That  the  following  address  should  be  signed  by  the 
Church  Wardens  in  behalf  of  this  Board,  and  forthwith  presented 
to  his  Excelly  and  Council,  viz. 

TO    HIS    EXCELLENCY     BENJAMIN    FLETCHER,    CAPTAIN-GENERAL    AND 
GOVERNOR    IN    CHIEF    OF    THE     PROVINCE    OF    NEW-YORK,    ETC. 

The   humble  petition  of  the   Church    Wardens   and   Vestrymen  of 
Trinity  Church,  in  the  city  of  New- York, 

Sheweth, 

That  there  is  a  certain  sum  of  money  raised  by  virtue  of  a 
Lycense  from  yr  Excel,  with  advice  of  the  Council,  from  the 
voluntary  contribution  of  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Province  and  others, 
towards  the  relief  of  Christian  Captives  in  Sally,  wch  did  belong 
to  this  Province,  and  in  case  of  their  death,  or  other  escape,  or 
that  it  be  impossible  to  relieve  them;  by  ye  said  Lycense  it  is 
to  be  employed  to  ye  like  or  some  other  pious  use  as  yr  Excel, 
ye  Gov1  and  Council  shall  appoint. 

That  it  so  happens  ye  said  Captives  are  escaped,  dead,  or 
otherwise  not  to  be  relieved. 

That  ye  Church  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  of  Trinity  Church  for 
and  towards  ye  furnishing  of  said  Church  did,  upon  their  humble 
application  by  Yr  Excell8  favor,  obtain  from  yr  Excell  in  Council 
on  ye  2d  of  Decemb1-  1697  an  order  for  ye  paym*  of  said  money 


20  HISTORY    OF 

to  the  Church  Wardens  of  said  Church,  towards  ye  finishing  of 
said  Church,  upon  condition  that  if  any  of  ye  said  Captives  be  in 
captivity  and  to  be  relieved,  ye  Corporation  of  Trinity  should 
procure  their  relief  and  redemption  at  their  charge. 

And  as  the  persons  intrusted  by  Yr  Excel  withe  the  managem* 
of  said  money  towards  ye  redemption  of  Captives,  viz.  Col.  Stephen 
Van  Courtlandt,  Peter  Jacobs  Morris,  Doct.  Kerfbyl,  and  Capt. 
John  Kip,  will  not  meet  together  at  ye  request  of  ye  said  Church 
Wardens,  to  deliver  up  ye  acco*  of  ye  amount  of  ye  said  money 
and  to  assign  the  same  ; 

Therefore  Yr  Excells  Petns  humbly  pray  Yr  Excel,  to  order 
that  ye  sd  persons  be  summoned  to  appear  before  yr  Excel,  and 
give  an  acco1  of  ye  amount  of  the  said  money,  and  be  ordered  to 
assign  ye  said  money,  to  the  said  Church  Wardens,  for  ye  aforesaid 
use  of  Trinity  Church  without  further  delay. 

And  Yr  Excel8  Petns,  as  in  duty  bound,  shall  ever  pray,  &c. 

In  the  following  year — 

Mr.  Jamison  reports  to  this  Board,  that  ye  petition  ordered  ye 
last  meeting  of  this  Board  was  read  in  Council  Thursday  last, 
and  that  Col.  Courtlandt  one  of  the  Council  and  one  of  ye  persons 
concern'd  therein,  informed  ye  Govr  and  Council,  that  they  were 
ready  to  deliver  up  all  papers  relating  to  the  money  collected  for 
ye  redemption  of  Captives  in  Sally  and  to  assign  the  same. 
Whereupon  it  is  ordered,  (Mr.  Tho.  Wenham  being  indisposed) 
that  Mr.  Robt.  Lurting,  Mr.  James  Emott,  and  Mr.  David  Jamison 
do  waite  upon  the  said  Col.  Courtlandt  and  ye  other  persons  to 
whose  charge  the  said  money  was  committed,  and  demand  all 
papers  relating  thereunto,  and  assignm1  of  ye  same. 

On  the  10th  of  April,  1705— 

Mr.  Jamison  presented  to  the  Vestry  a  letter  from  Mr.  Geilnick 
&  Lodwick  of  London,  dated  the  12th  of  Sept'.  1705,  wch  advised 
of  one  hundred  and  seventy  pounds  two  shillings  and  threepence 
sterling,  laid  out  in  thirty  eight  half  pieces  of  stroud  waters,  and 
ship*  on  the  New  York  Merch*.  Capt.  JefTors  Comander,  as  per 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  21 

Bill  of  Lading  and  Invoice,  with  an  acco*  curr1 ;  being  the  net 
produce  of  one  hundred  and  ninety  pounds  twelve  shillings  and 
twopence  sterling,  remitted  from  Mr.  Hero  May  and  Win.  Banker 
out  of  Holland,  \vch  was  Intended  for  Redemption  of  Slaves  out 
of  Sally ;  failing  that  use,  was  assigned  to  Trinity  Church  in 
New  York,  wch  were  read,  and  Mr.  Jamison  owned  the  receipt 
of  the  said  goods,  and  informed  this  Board  that  his  LordP  was 
pleased  on  Mr.  Vesey's  application  to  him,  to  give  a  Bill  of  Store 
for  the   Custome  of  said  goods,   amounting  to  Tenn  pounds. 

It  was  thereupon 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Jamison  and  Capt.  Lurting,  be  Impowerd  to 
dispose  of  the  Thirty  Eight  pieces  of  strouds  to  the  best  advan- 
tage for  the  use  of  the  Church. 

Capt.  Lurting  and  Mr.  Jamison  soon  after  acquainted  this  Board 
that  they  had  disposed  of  Thirty  pieces  of  strouds,  part  of  the 
Cargo  from  England,'  at  Twelve  pounds  per  piece,  wch  money 
was  ready  to  be  produced,  amounting  to  the  sum  of  three  hun- 
dred  and  sixty  Pounds. 

The  Eight  remaining  peeces  were  subsequently  sold  at  eleven 
pounds  pr  peece,  amounting    in  all  to  £448. 

Another  singular  method  was  devised,  to  increase 
the  funds  for  building  the  Church,  but  the  final 
success  of  which,  however,  unlike  the  last,  remains 
unknown. 

Capt.  Wenham  informd  this  Board,  that  notwithstanding  the  many 
signal  gifts  his  Excel,  had  bestowed,  for  the  encouragement  of  Piety 
and  Religion  amongst  us,  in  the  carrying  on  of  the  building  of 
Trinity  Church,  his  Excel,  has  been  further  pleasd,  for  the  better 
effecting  of  the  same,  to  grant  to  the  present  Church  Wardens 
and  Managers  of  the  said  building,  a  Commission  for  all  Weifts, 
Wrecks,  and  Drift  Whales. 

And  Capt.  Clarke  was  commissionated  to  depute  such  proper  per- 
sons on  the  Island  of  Nassau,  as  he  should  see  meet,  for  the  securing, 
cutting  up,  and  trying  of  all  such  drift  whales,  &c.   as  should  come 


22  HISTORY   OF 

on  shoar  on  ye  said  Island ;    and  that   for  their  care   and  Labour 
therein,  he  should  allow  them  reasonable  encouragement. 

After  the  appointment  of  various  committees,  for 
soliciting  the  benevolence  both  of  citizens  and  stran- 
gers, and  the  most  persevering  diligence  and  activity 
in  the  discharge  of  their  duties,  there  still  appears, 
from  the  following  entry  on  the  minutes,  to  have  been 
a  deficiency  in  their  means,  and  a  necessity  for  bor- 
rowing money,  in  order  to  hasten  the  completion  of 
the  work. 

Whereas,  the  Protestants  of  this  City  of  the  Communion  of  the 
Church  of  England,  as  by  Law  were  Incorporated,  and  made  a  body 
Politic,  Col.  Caleb  Heathcote,  Major  William  Merret,  Capt.  Tho. 
Wenham,  Capt.  Ebenezer  Wilson,  Capt.  Thomas  Clarke,  Capt.  Wil- 
liam Morris,  Capt.  Jeremiah  Tothill,  and  Mr.  Derrick  Vanderburgh, 
did  become,  and  are  still  obligd  by  obligation,  under  their  hands  and 
seals  in  the  sum  of  Four  hundred  Pounds  current  money  of  New  York, 
on  condition  to  pay  two  hundred  pounds  like  money  with  the  interest 
of  six  per  cent  unto  the  widow  Hellegond  Dekay,  it  being  employed 
for  the  more  speedy  and  better  carrying  on  of  the  building  of  Trinity 
Church :  It  is  therefore  ordered,  that  the  same  be  a  corporation  debt, 
and  that  the  Rector,  Church  Wardens,  and  Vestrymen  of  the  said 
Church  for  the  time  being,  do  indemnifie  the  said  persons  from  the 
said  obligations. 

In  a  very  short  time  after  the  grant  of  the  charter, 
the  nominal  office  of  the  Bishop  of  London  as 
Rector,  gave  place  to  one  that  was  actual. 

"  The  choice  of  a  clergyman  was  lodged  in  the 
Vestry,  who,  after  having  built  the  church,  offered 
the  appointment  of  Rector  to  Mr.  Vesey,  a  gentle- 
man well  known  and  generally  esteemed  in  the  city, 
provided  he  should  be  admitted  to  holy  orders.    Mr. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  23 

Vesey  accordingly  went  to  England  and  was  ordained, 
and  his  whole  subsequent  life  fully  justified  the  choice 
which  had  been  made  of  him.     For  fifty  years  he 
continued    to    discharge    the    duties   of   Rector   of 
Trinity  Church,  and  for  a  great    part  of  that  time 
was  entrusted  with  the  general  ecclesiastical  oversight 
of  the    Church    in    this    colony,   as   the   Bishop  of 
London's    Commissary."*      The   new   Rector   first 
performed  divine  service   in  Trinity  Church  on  the 
6th  of  February,  1697.      The  Rev.  Mr.  Keith,  one 
of  the  missionaries   of  the   society  for   propagating 
the  gospel  in  foreign  parts,  thus  quaintly  notices  it 
a  few  years  afterwards.     "  At  New  York  there  was 
a  brave  congregation   of  people    belonging    to   the 
church,  as  well  as  a  very  fine  fabric,  and  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Vesey  was  very  much  esteemed  and  loved,  both 
for  his  ministry   and  good  life."     This   testimony  is 
also  most  amply  confirmed  not  only  in  regard  to  Mr. 
Vesey,  but  all  the  clergy  of  the  province,  by  a  letter 
from  Lord  Cornbury,  who  was  a  great  upholder  of 
the  Church  within  his  jurisdiction,   and   by  another 
from  Colonel  Heathcote,  written  in  the  same  year, 
on  the  9th  of  November,  1705.      The   language  of 
the  latter  is  particularly  strong :   "  I  must  do  all  the 
gentlemen  the  justice  to  declare,  that  a  better  clergy 
were  never  in  any  place,  there  being  not  one  amongst 
them  that  has  the  least  stain  or  blemish  as  to  his  life 
and  conversation." 


*  Hawkins's  Missions  of  the  Church  of  England,  p.  275. 


24  •         HISTORY   OF 

Trinity  Church  was  originally  a  small  square 
edifice,  but  it  was  afterwards  enlarged  in  1737.  "  It 
stands,"  as  was  remarked  by  an  early  writer  of  the 
history  of  New  York,  "very  pleasantly  upon  the 
banks  of  Hudson's  river,  and  has  a  large  cemetery 
on  each  side,  enclosed  in  the  front  by  a  painted 
paled  fence.  Before  it  a  long  walk  is  railed  off 
from  the  Broadway,  the  pleasantest  street  of  any  in 
the  whole  town.  This  building  is  about  one  hundred 
and  forty-eight  feet  long,  including  the  tower  and 
chancel,  and  seventy-two  feet  in  breadth.  The 
steeple  is  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  feet  in  height, 
and  over  the  door  facing  the  river,  is  the  following 
inscription : 

PER   ANGUSTAM. 

Hoc  Trinitatis  Templum  fundatum  est  anno  regni  illustrissimi, 
Supremi,  Domini  Gulielmi  tertii,  Dei  gratia  Angliss,  Scotiae,  Franciae, 
et  Hiberniae  Regis,  Fidei  Defensoris,  &c.  Octavo,  Annoq ;  Domini 
16y6. 

Ac  voluntarisi  quorundam  contributione  et  Donis  jEdificatum, 
maxime  autem,  dilecti  Regis  Chiliarchae  Benjamini  Fletcher,  hujus 
Provincial  strategi  et  Imperatoris,  Munincentia  animatum  et  auctum, 
cujus  tempore  moderaminis  hujus  Civitatis  incolse,  Religionem 
protestantem  Ecclesiae  Anglicanae,  ut  secundum  Legem  nunc  stabilitee 
profitentes  quodam  Diplomate,  sub  Sigillo  Provinciae  incorporati  sunt, 
atque  arias  Plurimas,  ex  Re  sua  familiari,  Donationes  notabiles  eidem 
dedit.— Smith's  History  of  New   York,   Vol.  i.  pp.   302,  303. 

Which  being  Englished,  is, 

This  Trinity  Church  was  founded  in  the  eighth  year  of  the  reign 
of  the  Most  Illustrious  Sovereign  Lord  William  the  Third,  by  the 
grace  of  God  King  of  England,  Scotland,  France,  and  Ireland, 
Defender  of  the  faith,  &c,  and  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1696  ;  and 
built  by  the  voluntary  contributions  and  gifts  of  some  persons,  and 


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TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW- YORK.  25 

chiefly  encouraged  and  promoted  by  the  bounty  of  his  Excellency 
Colonel  Benjamin  Fletcher,  Captain  General  and  Governor-in-chief 
of  this  Province  ;  in  the  time  of  whose  government  the  inhabitants 
of  this  city  of  the  Protestant  Religion  of  the  Church  of  England 
as  now  established  by  law,  were  incorporated  by  a  charter  under 
the  seal  of  the  Province,  and  many  other  valuable  gifts  he  gave  to  it 
of  his  private  fortune.* 

"The  church  is  within  ornamented  beyond  any 
other  place  of  public  worship  among  us.  The  head 
of  the  chancel  is  adorned  with  an  altar-piece,  and 
opposite  to  it,  at  the  other  end  of  the  building,  is  the 
organ.  The  tops  of  the  pillars  which  support  the 
galleries  are  decked  with  the  gilt  busts  of  angels, 
winged.  From  the  ceiling  are  suspended  two  glass 
branches,  and  on  the  walls  hang  the  arms  of  some 
of  its  principal  benefactors."  Among  these,  a  con- 
spicuous place  was  given  to  Governor  Fletcher's, 
and  the  same  inscription  was  placed  under  them 
as  that  which  has  already  been  noticed  over  the 
door  of  the  church. 

From  a  due  sense  likewise  of  all  his  Excellency's 
favors,  it  was 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  James  Evets  do  lay  out  the  ground  for  his  pew 
in  the  East  part  of  the  Church  next  to  the  chancell,  to  remaine 
forever  to  the  aforesaid  use,  or  the  use  of  others,  as  his  Excel,  shall 
think  fit  to  direct. 

It  was  likewise 

Ordered,  That  the  Gallery  designed  to  be  built  on  ye  South  side  of 
Trinity  Church,  at  ye  charge  of  ye  Govcrm*,  for  ye  use  of  ye  Govr 


Entry  on  the  minutes  of  the  Vestry. 

2 


26  HISTORY    OF 

and  Council  of  this  Province,  have  a  part  added  to  it  at  ye  charge  of 
this  Corporation,  to  run  towards  ye  West  end  of  ye  Church,  and 
those  persons  that  will  have  pews  therein  do  in  proportion  pay  ye 
charge  thereof. 

The  following  is  the  Form  of  Assignment  of  Pews 
in  Trinity  Church : 

The  Rector  and  Inhabitants  of  the  City  of  New-York,  in  Com- 
munion  of  the  Church  of  England  as  by  Law  Established  :  To  all 
to  whom  it  doth  and  may  concern  —  Greeting.  Know  ye,  that  for 
a  valuable  consideration  to  us  in  hand  paid  by  A.  B.  of  the  said  City, 
we  have  given  and  granted,  and  by  these  presents  do  give  and  Grant 
unto  the  said  A.  B.,  and  the  heirs  of  his  body,  all  the  one-half  part  of 
the  Pew  in  Trinity  Church  in  NYork  marked  No.  (10)  ;  whereof 
the  other  part  doth  belong  to  C.  D.  :  To  use  &  enjoy  the  same 
forever;  He  the  said  A.B.  and  his  heirs  cleansing,  maintaining, 
and  keeping  the  same  in  good  repair  at  their  own  proper  charge, 
saving  and  reserving  always  unto  the  said  Rector  &  Inhabitants, 
and  their  successors  forever,  not  only  the  reversion  thereof,  failing 
the  heirs  ot  the  said  A.B,  but  also  upon  his  or  their  removal  from 
the  said  City  of  New-York  to  Inhabit  in  other  parts,  the  free  use 
and  disposition  thereof  for  the  benefit  and  profit  of  the  said  Church 
durmo-  their  absence.  In  testimony  whereof,  the  said  Rector  and 
Inhabitants  have  caused  their  seal  to  be  hereunto  affixed :  Witnessed, 
John  Crooke  and  David  Jamison,  the  present  Church  Wardens  at 
New-York,  the  day  of  Anno  Dom:    1709. 

A  circumstance  is  recorded  on  the  completion  of 
the  Church,  which  is  very  characteristic  of  the 
uniform  liberality  and  kindness  which  have  always 
marked  the  proceedings  of  the  Vestry. 

This  day  the  board  accounted  with  Mr.  Derrick  Vanderburgh, 
and  there  appears  due  to  him,  by  balance,  the  sum  of  £294  9s.  Id. 
current  money  of  New-York  for  workmen,  labourers,  and  money 
&c.  by  him  expended  for  the  building  of  Trinity  Church  and  the 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  27 

Steeple  ;  and  in  consideration  that  he  hath  been  long  out  of  his 
money  and  no  interest  for  the  same :  It  is  resolved  and  ordered 
by  this  Board,  nemine  contradicente,  that  a  silver  tankard  of  the 
value  of  Twelve  pounds  be  presented  unto,  and  to  be  paid  out  of 
the  public  stock  of  Trinity  Church,  and  that  till  the  said  sum  of 
.£294  9*.  Id.  be  paid,  he  be  allowed  from  this  day  interest  for 
such  sum,  as  shall  be  behind  and  not  paid,  at  the  rate  of  seven 
pounds  per  cent,  per  ami. 

About  this  period  several  valuable  gifts  were  made 
to  Trinity  Church,  the  acknowledgments  whereof 
were  entered  on  the  minutes. 

Mr.  David  Jamison  reports,  that  his  Excel  ye  Govr  Col.  Fletcher, 
has  given  a  Bible  and  some  other  Books  to  this  Corporation  for  ye 
use  of  Trinity  Church,  wch  are  supposed  to  be  in  the  hands  of  Mr. 
Lymon  Smith.  Ordered  Capt.  Wilson  and  Wm.  Sharpas  do  waite 
upon  Mr.  Smith  and  ask  for  ye  same. 

Mr.  Vesey  informed  the  Board,  that  he  has  recd  from  his  Excel? 
Rich.  Earl  of  Bellamont  a  parcell  of  books  of  Divinity,  sent  over 
by  the  Right  Reverend  Henry,  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  for  ye 
use  of  Trinity  Church,  for  which  he  hath  given  a  receipt  to  his 
Excely,  a  list  whereof  is  produced. 

Air.  Hawdon  and  Mr.  Ives  were  ordered  to  oversee  the  getting 
of  the  paving  stones  from  the  Pink  blossome,  and  lodging  them 
in  the  Steeple,  being  the  Gift  of  ye  Lord  Bishop  of  Bristoll  to 
Trinity  Church. 

Mr.  Huddleston  inform'd  this  Board,  that  his  Excell  the  Lord 
Viscount  Cornbury  had  given  to  the  Church  a  black  cloth  Pall, 
on  condition  no  person  dying  and  belonging  to  Forte  Anne  should 
be  deny'd  the  use  thereof,  Gratis. 

Mr.  Vesey  acquainted  this  Board,  the  Lord  Cornbury  had  presented 
to  the  Church,  two  Common  Prayer  Books,  and  the  Library  with 
the  Lord  Clarendon's  first  part  of  the  history  of  the  Civil  wars  of 
the  kingdome  of  England. 

Mr.  Vesey  presented  to  this  Board  a  letter  from  the  Bishop  of 
London,  relating  to  Communion  Plate  and  furniture  for  the  Church, 


28  HISTORY    OF 

desiring  the  Church  to  appoint  their  Solicitor  for  getting  the  same, 
and  he  hath  promised  his  assistance. 

Ordered,  That  the  Church  Wardens  write  to  Col.  Lodwick,  to 
desire  him  to  sollicite  for  the  said  plate  and  furniture ;  and  that  they 
take  care  to  remit  a  Bill  of  Thirty  pounds  sterling  to  him,  to  be 
Imploy'd  for  that  service,  and  buying  of  two  surplices  and  two 
Common  Prayer  Books  for  Trinity  Church. 

Ordered,  That  the  Church  Wardens  get  an  address  drawn,  to  be 
presented  to  his  Excellency,  to  grant  the  Queen's  Farme  and  the 
Queen's  garden  to  Trinity  Church,  and  that  the  Vestry  present  the 
same. 

Mr.  Jamison  produc'd  his  Excell8  Patent  for  the  King's  Farme, 
now  called  the  Queen's  Farme,  and  the  Queen's  garden,  wch  was 
read,  and  acquainted  the  Vestry  that  his  Excell,  Mr.  Attorney  Gen1 
Bickley  and  Mr.  Secretary  Clark,  gave  their  fees  for  passing 
thereof. 

Ordered,  That  this  Vestry  do  return  his  LordP  thanks  for  his 
many  great  favors  to  the  Church,  particularly  for  his  Excell  Patent 
for  the  Queen's  Farme,  the  Queen's  garden,  and  Bill  of  Store  for 
the  goods  that  came  from  England ;  and  that  Mr.  Jamison,  Mr. 
Attorney  General  Bickley,  and  Mr.  Emmet,  draw  up  an  address  to 
his  LordP  accordingly. 

Previously,  however,  to  the  reception  of  Lord 
Cornbury's  patent,  notice  had  been  given 

That  ye  Kings  Farme  was  to  be  lett,  and  that  the  Church  War- 
dens were  appointed  a  Committee  to  farme  the  same,  and  report  to 
this  Board. 

It  was  shortly  after  let  on  the  following  conditions, 
which  are  singularly  strange  in  relation  to  an  estate 
on  which  a  city  has  risen : 

It  is  agreed  by  this  Board,  that  George  Ryerse  have  the  farme  the 
remaining  part  of  the  year,  till  the  first  of  May  next ;  that  he  shall 
have  liberty  to  take  off  his  winter  and  summer  grain,  provided  he 
plant  no  Indian  Corne  next  spring  therein ;  that  he  sew  no  more 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  29 

summer  grain  next  spring  than  winter  grain  ;  that  he  committ  not  any 
waste,  leave  the  fences  in  repair  and  good  order,  he  paying  for  the 
same  the  sum  of  Thirty  five  pounds  to  the  Church  Wardens  for  the 
use  of  the  Church,  in  manner  following  :  that  is  to  say,  Twenty  pounds 
the  first  of  Novembr,  and  fifteen  pounds  the  first  of  May  next 
ensuing. 

The  first  person  who  was  appointed  Sexton  in 
Trinity  Church  was, 

Nich.  Fielding,  a  person  reputed  of  honest  behaviour  and  conver- 
sation, who  offered  his  service  gratis,  till  the  Corporation  of  the 
Church  should  be  formally  established,  and  a  salary  allow'd  for  it.* 
This  was  on  the  25th  of  October,  1697. 

He  continued  in  office  but  a  very  short  time,  for 
in  the  next  year  another  appointment  was  made,  as 
may  be  inferred  from  the  following  entry  in  the 
minutes : 

Mr.  Welch  appeared  before  the  board,  and  being  informed  that 
this  Church  wanted  a  Sexton,  told  them  that  he  was  ready  to 
execute  that  office,  and  that  for  his  wages  or  salary  for  the  same,  he 
be  allowed  six  shillings  per  ann.  of  every  pew  for  the  cleaning  and 
looking  after  the  same  ;  and  that  the  persons  that  have  a  right  to  the 
said  pews  pay  the  same  quarterly,  in  equall  portions.  He  also 
remained  but  a  short  time  in  office,  and  was  succeeded  in  1705 
by  his  son  James.f 

Ordered,  That  the  said  James  Welsh  be  appointed  Sexton  of 
Trinity  Church,  in  the  City  and  Province  of  New- York,  and  to  receive 
and  take  the  fees  and  Perquisites  thereof,  on  his  giving  security  to 

*  There  is  the  following  curious  entry  in  the  minutes  with  respect 
to  his  assistant : 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Tothill  do  provide  the  Sexton's  boy  a  waistcoat, 
col'd  breeches,  shoes  and  stockings,  hat  and  neckcloths. 

f  For  as  complete  a  list  of  the  Sextons  of  Trinity  Church,  dining 
the  existence  of  the  Parish,  as  can  be  made  out,  see  Appendix  B. 


30  HISTORY    OF 

acco*  with,  and  pay  unto  the  Church  Wardens,  for  the  time  being, 
(when  required,)  the  fees  and  profits  due,  and  from  time  to  time  that 
shall  or  may  grow  due,  to  Trinity  Church.  And  also  pay  unto  the 
Church  Wardens,  for  the  time  being,  the  fees  and  benefits  of  the 
Sexton  of  the  said  Church,  to  be  disposed  of  towards  the  support 
of  his  Mother,  himself,  and  Brother,  unto  the  1st  of  Aprill,  1707. 
Mr.  Welch,  late  Sexton  of  Trinity  Church,  being  dedd,  his  son 
James  made  applycation  to  the  Vestry  to  succeed  his  father  in  the 
office  of  Sexton. 

In  1697  it  appears  also  that  a  clerk  was  appointed : 

The  Board  having  considered  the  necessity  there  is  for  a  Clark, 
to  execute  that  office  for  the  service  of  the  Congregation  of  Trinity 
Church,  and  being  sensible  of  the  good  services  Mr.  William  Hud- 
dleston  hath  done  in  that  office  for  some  years,  and  his  readiness  still 
to  officiate  in  that  office,  have  nominated  and  appointed  the  said 
William  Huddleston,  Clark  of  the  said  Church,  for  the  year  ensuing, 
to  commence  from  the  11th  day  of  this  Instant  month  of  January, 
(1697,)  and  that  for  his  encouragement  for  the  due  execution  of  the 
said  office,  he  have  a  salary  of  Twenty  pounds  current  money 
of  New-York,  and  that  the  said  be  paid  quarterly.* 

In  the  following  year,  however,  it  appears  that  he 
sent  in  his  resignation,  but  shortly  after  resumed 
his  office : 

Mr.  William  Huddleston,  late  Clarke  of  Trinity  Church,  informed 
this  Board,  that  by  reason  of  great  business  and  affairs  that  called 
him  abroad,  he  cannot  attend  to  that  service,  and  desires  this  board 
will  appoint  some  other  person  to  execute  that  office.  It  is  therefore 
ordered,  that  Mr.  Nath.  Marston  be  Clarke  of  Trinity  Church  during 
his  well  behaviour  in  ye  said  office,  and  that  he  have  a  sallary  of 
Twenty  Pounds  per  ann.  for  ye  said  service,  to  be  paid  quarterly  out 
of  ye  Public  Stock  of  ye  Church,  to  commence  from  the  ninth  day  of 
this  Instant  month  of  April,  (1698.) 


*  For  a  full  list  of  the  Clerks  of  Trinity  Church,  see  Appendix  C. 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  31 

The  salaries  both  of  the  Clerks  and  Sextons  were 
at  that  day  exceedingly  small,  the  principal  part  of 
their  emoluments  arising  from  fees. 

The  following  are  the  rates  at  which  these  were 

fixed  : 

The  Clerk's  fees. 

For  attending  at  a  funeral,  Five  shillings  and  sixpence. 

For  his  attendance  at  a  marriage,   Six  shillings  and  sixpence. 

For  the  registering  a  christening,  Ninepence. 

The  Sexton's  fees. 
For  ringing  the  bell  for  a  funeral,  Three  shillings. 
For  making  a  grave,  Six  shillings. 
For  every  marriage,  Three  shillings  and  threepence. 
Ordered,  That  every  stranger  pay  double  fees. 

The  income  of  the  Rector  was  made  up  as  it 
would  seem,  in  a  great  measure  at  least,  from  the 
same  source ;  for  his  stated  salary  was  only  £100 
per  annum,  with  an  allowance  of  £26  to  be  paid  by 
government  towards  the  rent  of  his  house,  until  one 
could  be  built  for  him  on  the  Queen's  Farm. 

The  fees  which  were  appropriated  to  the  Rector's 
use,  were  established  by  the  Vestry  as  follows : 

For  Burials  in  the  Church. 
For  burying  a  man  or  woman  in  the  Chancel,  £5. 
For  the  same  ground  for  a  child  above  ten  years,  and  not  exceeding 
sixteen,  £2  10s. 

For  a  child  under  ten  years,  £1  5s. 

And  at  a  later  period,  the  following  additional 
charges  were  authorized : 

For  performing  the  Funeral  Service  in  the  Church,  13s. 
For  performing  the  Funeral  Service  in  the  Churchyard,  9s. 
For  a  marriage  in  the  Parish,  13s. 


32  HISTORY   OF 

Whether  there  were  any  regulation  or  custom  in 
regard  to  these  matters  in  Mr.  Vesey's  time,  is  uncer- 
tain ;  but  it  is  evident  from  the  following  entries  on 
the  minutes,  that  both  his  salary  and  perquisites  were 
insufficient  for  his  comfortable  support: 

Ordered,  That  the  Easter  Offerings  at  the  Communion  on  Easter 
Sunday,  be  to  the  use  of  the  Rector.     And  that 

For  the  better  support  of  our  Minister,  Mr.  Vesey,  he  be  allowed 
and  paid  weekly  out  of  ye  contribution  made  in  the  Church,  the  sum 
of  24  shillings,  money  of  New-York ;  any  former  order  for  the  dispo- 
sition of  the  money  arising  by  that  means,  notwithstanding. 

It  appears,  that  in  1713,  there  was  some  difficulty 
in  regard  to  the  payment  of  his  salary,  the  real  causes 
of  which  are  not  fully  explained.  It  probably  arose 
out  of  sectarian  prejudice  and  ill  will  towards  the 
Church.  By  the  provisions  of  the  Charter  and  an 
Act  of  Assembly,  this  salary  was  once  in  every  year 
to  be  levied,  assessed,  and  collected  by  the  Wardens 
and  Vestrymen  of  Trinity  Church,  for  the  sole  and 
proper  use  of  the  Rector  and  his  successors  forever  ; 
and  it  was  the  duty  of  the  Justices  of  the  Peace 
and  Vestrymen  of  the  city  of  New-York,  to  direct 
their  warrants  to  the  Church  Wardens  to  issue  the 
monies  thus  levied  and  paid  into  the  hands  of  the 
Rector.  Upon  some  frivolous  pretext  of  his  absence 
from  the  Parish  without  leave,  though  having  the 
approbation  of  his  Diocesan,  the  Bishop  of  London, 
and  though  urged  to  the  same  both  by  private  and 
public  reasons,  they  obstinately  withheld  his  salary, 
until  they  were  compelled  to  pay  it  by  the  express 
mandate  of  the  crown.    The  principle  at  issue  was  of 


TRINITY   CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  33 

so  much  importance,  that  all  the  documents  on  the 
subject  were  recorded  in  the  minutes,  and  they  will 
be  found  in  the  Appendix  by  those  who  may  have 
the  curiosity  to  read  them.* 

Before  this  matter  was  so  happily  settled,  it  was 

Ordered,  Nemine  contradicente,  that  a  letter  be  wrote  to  His  Lord- 
ship to  thank  him  for  his  care  in  supporting  the  rights  of  our  Church, 
particularly  in  appointing  the  Reverend  Mr.  Vesey  his  Commissary 
in  this  &  the  Neighbouring  Province,  and  other  his  favours,  and  that 
Mr.  Bickley,  Mr.  Clarke,  Mr.  Barberie,  Mr.  John  Reade,  and  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Anderson,  or  any  three  of  them,  do  draw  up  the  said  letter. 

Ordered,  Nemine  contradicente,  that  this  Vestry  do  congratulate  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Vesey's  being  appointed  Commissary,  and  return  him 
their  Hearty  thanks  for  his  particular  services  done  for  this  Church 
and  doing  this  Board  justice  against  the  misrepresentations  sent  home 
against  them,  and  that  the  Church  Wardens  do  the  same. 

Ordered,  Nemine  contradicente,  that  this  Board  doe  return  their 
humble  thanks  to  the  Venerable  Society  for  their  great  Kindness, 
particularly  in  presenting  the  sum  of  Forty  Pounds  sterling  to  our 
Rector,  the  Reverend  Mr.  Vesey,  when  in  England,  and  the  sending 
to  us  the  Reverend  Mr.  Jenny  as  his  Assistant,  and  all  other  their 
favours. 

With  the  two-fold  duties  of  Rector  of  the  Parish 
and  Commissary  of  the  Province,  the  life  of  Mr.  Vesey 
must  have  been  one  continued  scene  of  labour,  dis- 
traction, and  care.  Even  when  he  was  confined  to 
the  former  only,  it  seems  to  have  been  found  neces- 
sary, as  it  is  with  the  Rector  at  the  present  day, 
to  fly  to  a  retreat,  in  order  to  escape  from  constant 
interruptions.     For  the  purpose,  therefore,  of  securing 

*  Appendix  E. 


34  HISTORY    OF 

the  retirement  which  he  needed  for  his  correspond- 
ence and  study,  it  was  ordered  by  the  Vestry,  that 
a  convenient  place  should  be  fitted  up  for  him  in  the 
lowest  floor  of  the  steeple. 

The  Rector,  however,  was  greatly  relieved  in  one 
part  of  his  pastoral  labours,  by  the  humble  aid  of  a 
long  succession  of  intelligent  schoolmasters  and  faith- 
ful catechists.  So  early  as  the  year  1710,  it  was 
suggested  to  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the 
Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  by  Colonel  Heathcote,  of 
New-York,  that  they  should  send  out  a  great  many 
more  Schoolmasters  to  instruct,  not  only  the  servants 
and  slaves  who  had  hitherto  lived  without  God  in  the 
world,  but  also  the  children  of  the  planters,  in  reading, 
writing,  and  the  principles  of  the  Christian  religion 
as  taught  and  professed  in  the  Church  of  England. 

The  Society  at  once  acted  upon  this  suggestion, 
and  sent  out  Mr.  Wm.  Huddlestone  as  Schoolmaster, 
who,  with  Mr.  Neau,  who  had  already  been  appointed 
as  Catechist,  in  a  subordinate  capacity  assisted  the 
Rector,  instructed  the  children  in  the  Catechism, 
and  fitted  them  for  the  Holy  Communion.  It  appears 
also,  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Barclay,  who  had  officiated 
seven  years  at  Albany,  during  his  stay  at  New-York 
had  more  directly  assisted  him,  and  satisfactorily  per- 
formed all  the  offices  of  his  ministerial  function  in 
Trinity  Church;  and  that  the  Rev.  Robert  Jenny 
in  the  following  year  was  sent  by  the  Society  to 
New-York,  for  the  more  regular  and  stated  assistance 
of  Mr.  Vesey.     "  Mr.  Neau,  who  had  been  appointed 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  35 

Catechist  a  few  years  before,  was  a  trader  in  this 
city,  and  a  Frenchman  by  birth.  In  consequence 
of  his  having  embraced  the  Reformed  religion,  he 
had  suffered  several  years'  confinement  in  prison  and 
in  the  galleys.  During  this  time,  he  had  learned, 
he  says,  part  of  the  Liturgy  by  heart  in  his  dungeons, 
and  that  ever  since,  he  had  entertained  both  an  affec- 
tion and  esteem  for  the  Divine  Service,  as  it  is  used 
in  the  Church  of  England."  #  For  a  long  course  of 
years  he  manifested  the  sincerity  of  his  attachment, 
by  the  most  devoted  and  faithful  discharge  of  his 
humble  duties  among  the  Indians  and  slaves,  of  whom 
there  were  at  that  time  about  1500  in  the  city. 

In  1708,  the  number  of  his  catechumens  had  risen 
to  more  than  200,  and  was  increasing  every  day. 
He  could  never  get  them  together  till  candle  light  in 
summer  or  winter,  except  on  Sundays,  when  they 
came  after  the  last  service  of  the  Church.  It  was 
the  practice  of  Mr.  Neau  to  resort  every  Sunday 
afternoon  with  his  catechumens  to  the  Church  to  be 
catechised  by  Mr.  Vesey,  and  to  take  them  to  him 
for  baptism  from  time  to  time,  as  he  considered 
them  sufficiently  prepared  to  receive  that  holy  sacra- 
ment. 

"  The  useful  course  of  his  labours  was  temporarily 
interrupted  in  1712,  by  an  insurrection  of  the  negroes 
in  the  city  of  New-York.  This,  though  soon  put 
down,  created  a  strong  prejudice  against  the  school, 

*  Hawkins'  Missions,  p.  270. 


36  HISTORY   OF 

which  the  masters,  who  were  for  the  most  part  averse 
to  their  being  instructed,  well  knew  how  to  turn  to 
account.  There  was  no  ground  for  it,  however,  as  it 
appeared  on  the  trial  that  but  one  of  all  Mr.  Neau's 
scholars,  and  that  one  unbaptized,  had  any  concern 
in  the  plot."  *  There  is  not  time  in  this  brief  sketch, 
for  a  minute  detail  of  his  useful  labours,  which  were 
finally  closed  in  1722. 

It  is  a  striking  proof  of  the  estimation  in  which  he 
was  held  in  his  day  and  generation,  that,  though 
engaged  in  a  vocation  so  humble  and  lowly,  he  was 
for  many  successive  years  elected  a  Vestryman  of 
this  Corporation.  His  remains  now  lie  in  the  burial- 
ground  of  Trinity  Church,  very  nearly  in  a  line  with 
its  northern  porch. 

In  1715,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jenny  was  appointed  by 
the  Venerable  Society  as  an  Assistant  to  Mr.  Vesey, 
at  the  salary  of  £50  sterling  a  year.  It  seems  also 
that  the  Vestry,  on  their  part,  were  adopting  suitable 
measures  for  the  increase  of  his  income,  and  his  more 
comfortable  support.  For,  in  a  letter  to  them,  dated 
the  23d  of  August,  1715,  from  the  Bishop  of  London, 
he  takes  occasion  to  thank  them  for  their  kindness  to 
Mr.  Jenny,  in  designing  an  augmentation  of  his 
salary,  and  for  every  other  instance  of  their  zeal 
and  endeavours  for  the  service  of  the  Church,  which 
he  assures  them  are  very  grateful  to  him. 

From  the  following  proceedings,  however,  in  the 


*  Hawkins'  Missions,  p.  272. 


TRINITY   CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  37 

Vestry,  it  seems  to  have  been  the  intention  of  the 
Society  to  remove  the  missionary  to  another  station : 

Mr.  Jenny  having  presented  to  this  Board  a  Letter  from  the  Society, 
that  they  had  come  to  a  Resolution  not  to  continue  him  Assistant 
longer  than  the  6th  of  March,  1715-16  : 

Ordered,  by  t  his  Board,  an  humble  address  be  presented  to  the 
Society,  begging  the  continuance  of  his  salary  ;  and  that  Mr.  Geo. 
Clarke,  Col1  Hamilton,  Mr.  Barberie,  Captn  Clarke,  Mr.  John  Moore, 
with  the  Rector,  or  any  three,  do  prepare  the  same,  which  was 
done  accordingly. 

Mr.  Vesey  presented  to  this  Board  a  Letter  from  the  Reverend  Mr. 
Jenny,  which  was  read,  wherein  he  Informed  him,  he  had  recvd  a  letter 
from  Mr.  Humphreys,  that  acquainted  him  the  Society  for  the  propa- 
gation of  the  Gospell  had  resolved  to  dismiss  all  Assistants  from  their 
service,  in  the  number  of  which  he  was  included ;  and  also  a  Letter 
from  his  Lordship,  the  Bishop  of  London,  who  also  mentions  the 
Society's  having  withdrawn  the  Allowance  made  by  them,  as  no 
longer  in  a  condition  to  furnish  it,  and  had  recommended  him  to  the 
Governour  of  Virginia,  to  put  him  in  some  vacant  parish  till  the 
Society  could  provide  for  him  ;  and  that  he  would  please  to  inform  this 
Board,  that  it  was  not  his  intent  to  leave  this  Church,  provided  he 
could  be  supported  suitable  to  his  function. 

A  subscription  paper  was  presented  to  this  Board,  and  being  read, 
was  signed  by  all  the  Vestry  present. 

A  letter  was  presented  to  this  Board,  directed  to  the  Revd  Mr. 
Vesey,  from  the  Reverend  Mr.  Robert  Jenny,  which  was  read  and  is 
as  follows,  viz. 
Reverend  Sir~- 

I  must  beg  the  favor  of  you  once  more  to  meet  the  Gent,  of  the 
Vestry  on  my  account,  in  order  to  acquaint  them  with  his  Excellency's 
favour  to  me  of  the  Chaplain's  place  of  the  fort.  His  Excellency's 
concern  for  the  Interest  of  Trinity  Church,  has  mov'd  him  to  grant 
me  the  Liberty  to  continue  to  perform  the  duty  of  Assistant  to  you, 
which  may  easily  be  reconciled  with  the  duty  of  the  fort,  which  calls 
upon  me  only  Wednesdays  and  Fridays,  and  some  times  Sunday 
morning ;  so  that  if  I  attend  the  Prayers  of  the  Church   Tuesday, 


38  HISTORY   OF 

Thursday  and  Saturday,*  and  on  such  Sundays  as  I  officiate  in  the 

morning  in  the  fort,  read  prayers  and  preach  in  the   afternoon,  the 

offices  will  be  performed  to  the  same  effect   as   formerly,  without 

laying  an  additional  duty  on  you.     However,  since   I  am  desirous 

that  whatever  subscriptions   are  raised  for  me  be  entirely  voluntary, 

if  the  Gentlemen  shall  see  it  convenient,  I  shall  not  scruple  to  consent 

that  the  late  subscription  paper  be  torn,  and  a  new  one  made.     But 

still  I  must  desire  them  to  consider  that  I  am  not   yet    secure    of 

my  Chaplain's  place  ;   for  Dr.   Sharpe  resign'd  in  London,  and  we 

cannot  tell  whether  the  Government  there  has  it  otherwise  disposed 

of  already.      I  am,  Reverend  Sir,  with  due  respect  to  yourself  and 

the  gentlemen,  Your  affectionate  Brother  and  serv1, 

Rob't  Jenny. 
New- York,  July  26, 1717. 

Whereupon  it  was  Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  that  a  voluntary 
subscription  be  prepared,  and  carried  on  for  the  ensuing  year,  for  the 
said  Mr.  Jenny,  for  his  officiating  in  Trinity  Church  as  usual,  pay- 
able quarterly,  to  commence  from  Midsummer  last. 

He  continued  his  services  in  the  Parish  for  several 
years  as  Assistant  to  Mr.  Vesey,  and  was  then 
removed  by  the  Society  to  the  Parish  of  Rye. 

On  the  death  of  Mr.  Neau,  the  following  proceed- 
ings took  place  in  the  Vestry : 

A  letter  from  this  Board  to  Mr.  Humphreys,  Secretary  to  the 
Honble  Society  for  propagation  of  the  Gospell  in  foreign  parts,  was 
read  in  these  words  : 

New-York,  December  18th,  1722. 

Sir  :  Since  it  has  pleased  God  to  take  unto  himself  the  pious  Mr. 
Elias  Neau,  the  Catechist  of  this  city,   we,  the  Rector,  Church  War- 


*  From  this  it  would  seem,  that,  in  1717,  there  were  daily  prayers 
in  Trinity  Church,  again  revived  after  the  lapse  of  a  hundred  and 
thirty  years. 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  39 

dens,  and  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  most  humbly  Intreat  the  favour 
of  the  Honble  Society  to  appoint  a  Presbyter  of  the  Church  of 
England  to  officiate  in  his  stead,  with  the  same  annual  allowance,  and 
to  give  him  directions  to  assist  our  Minister,  who,  in  his  declining  age, 
is  not  so  able  as  formerly  to  perform  all  the  dutys  of  his  calling, 
which  daily  Increase  on  his  hands. 

We  have  lately  been  obliged,  by  voluntary  subscriptions,  to  enlarge 
our  Church,  but  the  subscriptions  being  insufficient,  we  have  been 
under  the  necessity  of  taking  up  money  at  Interest  to  compleat  the 
new  building,  which,  by  a  modest  computation,  will  cost  more  than 
twelve  hundred  pounds,  and  have  no  prospect  of  being  discharged  of 
the  debts  thereby  contracted  in  some  yeares  :  and  therefore  are  not  in 
a  condition  of  allowing  a  competent  maintenance  to  an  Assistant, 
tho'  one  is  absolutely  necessary.  But  if  the  Honble  Society  will  be 
so  favourable  to  us,  as  to  appoint  a  good  Preacher  Catechist  for  this 
place,  wth  directions  to  assist  in  our  Church,  we  presume,  for  his 
farther  encouragement,  we  shall  be  able  to  raise,  by  contribution,  soe 
much  as,  with  the  salary  from  the  Society,  will  be  a  comfortable 
subsistence  for  him. 

We  are  in  hopes  the  Society  will  judge  it  as  absolutely  necessary 
to  appoint  a  catechist  now  for  this  city,  as  formerly,  there  being  of  late 
yeares  such  a  vast  Increase  of  Children,  and  Indians,  and  Negro 
sen-ants,  who  cannot,  without  such  assistance,  be  so  well  instructed  in 
the  principles  of  Christianity.  And  we  Implore  their  favour  to  send 
one  over  in  Orders,  who  in  many  respects  will  be  more  capable  of  dis- 
charging that  office,  and  answering  the  pious  designs  of  the  Society 
than  a  Layman,  especially  in  assisting  the  Minister  of  the  Parish  in 
the  performance  of  all  Parochiall  dutys.  This,  on  many  accounts, 
will  exceedingly  advance  the  Honour  and  Interest  of  our  Holy 
Church  and  Religion  at  this  criticall  juncture,  when  the  Dissenters 
here  have  united  their  forces,  and  by  Encouragement  and  liberal 
contributions  from  abroad,  have  been  enabled  to  build  two  Meeting 
Houses,  and  to  support  Ministers  to  preach  in  them,  according  to  their 
different  opinions. 

We  desire  you  to  present  this  our  humble  petition  to  the  Honorable 
Society,  with  the  assurance  of  our  Prayers  to  Allmighty  God  to  direct 
and  prosper  all  their  undertakings,  for  the   advancement  of  God's 


40  HISTORY   OF 

glory  and  the  good  of  his  Church,  and  for  all  their  acts  of  piety  and 
charity,  to  Reward  them  in  the  End  with  a  Crown  of  Glory. 
We  are,  Sr,  Your  most  affectionate  humble  servants. 

To  the  Reverend  Mr.  David  Humphreys,  Secretary  to  the  Honourable 
Society  for  propagating  the  Gospell  in  foreign  parts. 

Which  letter  was  approved  of,  signed,  and  ordered  to  be  sent  home 
forthwith,  and  it  was  also  signed  by  Mr.  Barberie,  the  other  Church 
Warden  out  of  Vestry. 

To  which  letter  the  Vestry  received  the  following 
reply : 

London,  March  2d.  1723. 

Gentlemen  :  The  Society  for  the  propagation  of  the  Gospell 
in  Foreign  parts  have  some  time  since  taken  into  consideration  Your 
letter,  dated  the  18th.  December  1722,  wherein  you  desire  the  Society 
would  send  a  person  in  Priest's  orders  to  be  an  Assistant  to  the  Rever- 
end Mr.  Vesey  and  Lecturer,  when  they  send  a  Catechist  to  succeed 
Mr.  Neau.  I  do  therefore  acquaint  you  that  the  Society  have  appoint- 
ed the  Reverend  Mr.  Wetmore  to  be  Catechist  at  New- York  in  the 
place  of  Mr.  Elias  Neau,  and  to  be  assistant  to  Mr.  Vesey  in  his 
Parochial  dutys.  The  Society  do  expect  that  you  will  make  him  a 
sufficient  allowance  for  his  decent  and  commodious  support,  agreeable 
to  your  Engagement  to  the  Society  by  your  aforementioned  Letter. 
I  am,  Gentlemen,  Yr  most  humble  Serv4. 

David  Humphreys,  Secretary. 

To  the  Church  Wardens  and  Vestry  ) 
of  Trinity  Church,  New  York.  ) 

Another  letter  was  written  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Vesey, 
of  the  same  tenor,  but  with  the  following  addition  : 

I  have  wrote  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wetmore  by  this  Conveyance,  and 
suppose  he  will  soon  wait  upon  you.  I  desire  to  hear  from  you, 
as  soon  as  it  is  convenient,  what  Proceedings  have  been  made  in  this 
affair,  and  hope  it  will  succeed  as  the  Society  intend,    towards  your 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  41 

relief  in  the  better  performing  your  Parochial  duties,  and  the  supplying 
Mr.  Neau's  place  as  Catechist. 

I  am,  Reverend  Sir,  Your  most  humble  servant, 

David  Humphreys,  Secretary. 

P.S.  The  Society,  uppn  Your  recommendation  and  that  of  the  Mayor 
of  New- York,  have  appointed  Mr.  Thos.  Huddlestone  to  be  school- 
master in  the  Room  of  his  father,  dee'd,  with  the  same  salary  that 
was  allowed  him. 

After  which,  another  letter  of  the  same  date,  to  the  Reverend  Mr. 
Wetmore,  was  read  in  the  words  following,  viz. 

London,  March  2d.  1723. 
Rev'd  Sik  : 

The  Society  for  the  propagation  of  the  Gospell  in  foreign  Parts 
have  taken  into  consideration  Your  letter  to  them,  dated  New-York, 
November  11th.  1722,  wherein  you  acquaint  them  that  the  Reverend 
Mr.  Harrison  is  fixed  at  Staten  Island  by  His  Excellency  the  Gover- 
nor. The  Society  do  therefore  appoint  you  to  be  their  Catechist  at 
New- York,  in  the  place  of  the  late  Mr.  Neau,  and  do  expect  you 
would  forthwith  repair  to  the  charge  assigned  you.  The  Society  doe 
allow  you  for  that  service  a  salary  of  fifty  pounds  a  year,  to  continue 
from  your  first  admission  *here  in  London.  And  they  have  also 
appointed  you  to  be  the  Assistant  to  the  Reverend  Mr.  Vesey, 
Rector  of  Trinity  Church  in  New- York,  in  his  parochial  dutys,  and 
have  wrote  to  the  Church  Wardens  and  Vestry  of  that  Church,  to 
make  you  a  further  handsome  allowance  as  Assistant,  towards  your 
more  decent  and  commodious  support,  which  the  Society  expect  they 
will,  according  to  their  promise  made  to  them  by  the  letter,  readily 
doe. 

It  will  be  proper  for  you  to  let  me  know  what  steps  you  shall  take 

in  this   matter,   and  what  encouragement  you  meet  with  from  the 

Parish. 

I  am,  Reverend  Sir,  your  most  humble  Servant, 

David  Humphreys,    Secretary. 

For  the  Reverend  Mr.  Wetmore, } 
in  New-  York.  ) 

Whereupon  it  is  ordered,  that  the  subscription  paper  now  before 
this  Board,  and  subscribed  by  most  of  them,  be  carryed  round  to  the 

3 


42  HISTORY    OF 

Inhabitants  of  this  City,  to  receive  their  subscription  towards  support- 
ing the  said  Mr.  Wetmore. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Wetmore  entered  upon  his  duties 
in  1723,  as  Catechist  at  New-York,  in  the  room  of 
Mr.  Neau,  and  Assistant  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Vesey.  It 
appears  from  the  proceedings  of  the  Society,  that  he 
attended  to  the  catechizing  of  the  blacks  every 
Wednesday,  Friday,  and  Sunday  evening,  at  his  own 
house,  besides  in  the  Church  every  Sunday  before 
Evening  Service  $  and  that  he  had  sometimes  nearly 
200  children  and  servants  to  instruct,  whom  he  taught 
the  Church  Catechism,  and  that  he  commonly  added 
some  practical  discourse  suitable  to  their  capacities, 
joined  with  some  appropriate  devotions. 

In  1726,  a  communication  was  received  by  the  Vestry  from  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Wetmore,  in  which  he  acquainted  this  Board  that  he  had 
lately  been  called  by  the  Church  Wardens  and  Vestry  of  the  Parish 
of  Rye,  to  be  their  Minister,  in  the  room  of  the  Reverend  Mr.  Jenny, 
whom  the  Society  had  appointed  for  the  parish  of  Hempstead ;  and 
that  he  had  been  Inducted  in  the  said  Parish  of  Rye,  by  virtue  of 
Letters  of  Induction  from  His  Excellency  Governour  Burnet.  And 
also,  that  if  the  Society  should  be  pleased  to  approve  thereof,  he 
intended  to  accept  of  the  said  parish  and  remove  thither,  and  he 
thanked  the  Vestry  for  their  subscriptions  &  favours  to  him,  and 
assured  them  that  his  intentions  for  removing  did  not  proceed  from 
any  dislike,  but  purely  because  he  conceived  it  would  be  for  the  better 
and  more  certain  support  and  maintenance  of  himself  and  family. 

Measures  were  immediately  taken,  as  it  appears 
from  the  minutes,  for  supplying  his  place. 

Mr.  Vesey,  and  the  rest  of  the  Committee,  appointed  by  the  order 
of  the  last  Vestry,  to  prepare  an  address  to  the  Honourable  Society 
for  appointing  a  person  to  officiate  in  the  stead  of  the  Reverend  Mr. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  43 

Wetmore,  and  also  another  address  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  desiring 
his  favour  and  Assistance  therein,  acquainted  this  Board,  that  in  pur- 
suance of  the  said  order,  they  had  prepared  the  following  letters, 
which  were  accordingly  read  : 

New  York,  July  5th,  1726. 
Reverend  Sir  : 

Wee,  the  Rector,  Church  Wardens,  and  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church, 
in  the  City  of  New- York,  in  America,  being  informed  by  the  Reverend 
Mr.   Wetmore  of  his  call  and  Induction  to  Rye,  and  his  Resolution, 
with  the  Society's   leave,  to    settle  in  that  parish,   Doe  most  humbly 
address  that  Venerable  Body  to  appoint  another  Catechist,  with  the 
usual  salary,  to  officiate  in  that  place,  there  being  about  one  thousand 
and  four  hundred   Indian   and  Negro  Slaves,   and  the  number  daily 
increasing  by  Births,  and  Importations  from  Guinea  and  other  parts. 
A  considerable  number  of  those  Negroes,    by  the  Society's  charity, 
have  been  already  instructed  in  the  principles   of  Christianity,   have 
received   Holy  Baptism,   arc   communicants  of  our  Church,  and  fre- 
quently approach   the    Altar.     We   doubt  not   but   the   Society  has 
received  from  Mr.  Neau,  their  former  Catechist,  repeated  accounts  of 
the  great  success  of  his  Mission  ;    and  since  Mr.  Wetmore's  appoint- 
ment, we  have  with  great  pleasure  observed  on  Sunday  upwards  of  an 
hundred  English  Children  and  negro  servants   attending  him  in  the 
Church ;  and  their  catechetical  instructions  being  ended,  singing  Psalms 
and  praising  Cod  with  great  devotion.     The  Honorable  Society  at  all 
times,  and  more  especially  of  late,  has  most  Zealously  patronized  the 
cause  of  those  poor  Iniidells,  who  otherwise  might  still  have  remained 
ignorant  of  the  true  God,   and  the  only  way  to  happiness  ;   and  their 
great  charity  dispenced   among  them  here   having  already  produced 
such  blessed  effects,  must  raise   in   them   an  extraordinary  Joy    at 
present,  will  be  a  vast  accession  to  their  future  happiness,  and  encrease 
their  reward  of  Glory  in  another  world.     We  could  say  much  more 
on  this   occasion,  but  this   we  hope  will  be  sufficient  to  guard  them 
against  any  attempts  to  persuade  them  to  turn  their  Bounty  another 
way,  and  Induce  them  to  believe  that  the  Office  of  a  Catechist  here 
is  of  as  great  an  importance  as  ever,   and  that  his  Salary  is  as  well 
and   charitably  bestowed  as  any   Missionary's  in  all  those  parts.     If 
the  Society,   on  these  considerations,   should   be  pleased  to  appoint  a 


44  HISTORY    OF 

Catechist,  we  humbly  pray  that  he  may  be  one  in  orders,  and  directed 
to  assist  in  our  Church ;  who  in  many  respects  will  be  more  capable 
than  a  Layman  to  discharge  that  office,  and  answer  their  pious  designs, 
by  inculcating  on  the  Catechumens  the  principles  of  Religion,  both 
in  public  and  private,  with  greater  authority ;  visiting  them  in  their 
sickness ;  and  as  occasion  requires,  can  Baptize  them,  and  administer 
the  Holy  Communion  to  them  in  their  dying  hours.  Besides,  this  will 
be  an  act  of  Charity  to  us,  who  being  deeply  involved  in  debt,  enlarg- 
ing our  Church,  and  at  present  having  but  small  hopes  of  discharging  it, 
are  unable  of  ourselves  to  raise  a  sufficient  maintenance  for  one  to 
assist  our  Rector  in  his  declining  age,  and  to  preach  an  afternoon 
sermon  ;  thoh  it  is  of  absolute  necessity  and  great  importance  in  this 
populous  City,  a  place  of  considerable  trade  and  resort,  and  the  centre 
of  America.  A  good  English  Preacher,  of  such  a  clear  and  audible 
voice  as  may  reach  our  large  Church,  and  the  eares  of  the  numerous 
hearers,  will,  by  the  Divine  Influence,  very  much  advance  the  Glory 
of  God,  the  Interest  of  our  Holy  Church  and  Religion,  at  this  time ; 
and  we  shall  be  the  more  Capable  of  raising,  by  annual  subscriptions, 
soe  much,  as,  with  the  Society's  salary,  will  be  a  comfortable  subsist- 
ence for  him,  and  a  suitable  encouragement  for  a  man  of  piety  & 
learning  to  come  among  us  ;  and  if  he  has  an  inclination  to  teach  a 
Latin  school,  he  will  also  find  a  very  good  account  in  the  discharge 
of  that  Office.  Were  it  possible  for  the  Society  to  have  a  perfect 
view  of  this  Infant  Church,  planted  among  many  different  nations 
and  severall  Meeting  Houses,  wee  persuade  ourselves  that  her  Interest 
would  lye  as  near  their  hearts,  as  it  does  want  their  assistance.  All 
which  is  nevertheless  most  humbly  submitted  to  their  consideration 
by  us,  who  Heartily  pray  for  their  Health  and  Happiness  ;  and  shall 
endeavour  on  all  occasions  to  approve  ourselves  their  and  your  most 
obedient  humble  Servt8. 

To  the  Revd.  Mr.  David  Humphreys,  Secretary  to  the  } 
Honorable  Society  for  propagating  the  Gospell  in  > 
Foreign  parts.  ) 


Another  letter  on  the  same  subject  was  addressed 
to  the  Bishop  of  London : 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  45 

New-York,  July  5th,  1726. 

My  Lord  : 

Wee,  the  Rector,  Church  Wardens,  and  Vestry  of  Trinity 
Church,  being  assured  of  Mr.  Wetmore's  resolution  to  remove  to  Rye, 
with  the  leave  of  his  Superiours,  have  most  humbly  addressed  our- 
selves to  your  Lordship  and  the  Honourable  Society  to  appoint 
another  Catechist  in  Orders  to  officiate  in  this  city.  Inclosed  is  a 
copy  of  our  Address,  which  we  humbly  conceive  will  convince  your 
Lordship,  and  all  the  worthy  patrons  of  our  Church,  that  the  office  is 
still  as  absolutely  necessary  and  of  as  great  Importance  as  ever,  and 
the  Society's  charity  as  well  bestowed  this  way  as  on  any  Missionary 
on  the  Continent.  To  whom  should  we  goe,  under  God,  but  to  our 
right  Reverend  Father,  who,  by  Divine  providence,  is  appointed  the 
great  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  these  American  Churches  ;  and  as  you 
have  authority  and  Interest,  soe  we  are  well  assured  of  your  good 
Inclinations  to  recommend  our  petition  to  that  venerable  Body,  and  by 
your  powerful  intercession  render  it  successfull.  My  Lord,  among 
the  Infinite  Blessings  of  Allmighty  God  vouchsafed  this  Country 
wherein  we  live,  none  is  or  can  be  more  dear  to  us  than  the  free 
exercise  of  our  true  Religion,  and  it  is  from  hence,  with  Your  Lord- 
ships great  goodness  and  piety,  that  we  take  this  encouragement  to 
address  you  in  this  manner,  and  the  more  from  the  consideration  of 
our  aiming  at  that  which  your  Lordship  has  very  wisely  made  the 
supreme  end  of  all  your  actions,  the  promoting  of  Gods  glory  and  of 
being  instrumentall  in  establishing  and  propagating  the  Gospell  in 
foreign  parts.  And  it  is  a  vast  advantage  to  our  poor  endeavours  for 
this  pious  end,  that  they  are  sure  of  being  countenanced  by  your 
Lordship's  approbation  of  them,  and  by  your  zealous  application  in 
favour  of  our  Christian  Church,  which  God  has  purchased  with  his 
own  Blood.  May  Allmighty  God  long  preserve  you,  and  may  his 
Blessings  be  upon  all  your  endeavours  for  this  and  other  good 
purposes,  and  for  all  your  acts  of  piety  and  charity  may  you  be  in 
some  measure  rewarded  in  this  world,  and  finally  receive  the  crown 
of  righteousness  laid  up  for  you  in  Heaven.  These  are  the  hearty 
and  most  earnest  wishes  of,  May  it  please  your  Lordship,  your  Lord- 
ship's most  obedient  humble  servants. 
To  the  Right  Honorable  and  right  Reverend  Father  in  God  Edmond, 


46  HISTORY    OF 

Lord  Bishop  of  London,  and  one  of  his   Majestys  most  honorable 
privy  Councill. 

The  Revd  Mr.  Wetmore  acquainted  this  Board  that  the  Society 
had  been  pleased  to  appoint  and  send  over  the  Revd  Mr.  Colgan,  for 
the  parish  of  Rye,  unto  which  the  said  Mr.  Wetmore  had  already 
been  called  and  Inducted  ;  and  that  in  as  much  as  he  was  willing  and 
desirous  to  officiate  in  the  said  parish,  untill  the  Society's  further 
pleasure  should  be  known  therein,  he  and  Mr.  Colgan  had  agreed  that 
Mr.  Colgan  should  officiate  here  in  his  stead,  untill  such  time  as 
they  should  receive  further  orders  from  the  Society.  And  the  said 
Mr.  Colgan  also  appearing  before  this  Board,  and  declaring  his  assent 
thereto,  It  was-  consented  to  and  approved  of  accordingly ;  and  It 
was  thereupon  ordered  that  a  letter  be  writt  to  the  Venerable  Society, 
desiring  them  to  appoint  the  said  Mr.  Colgan  to  officiate  here  in  the 
stead  of  Mr.  Wetmore,  if  they  had  not  already  been  pleased  to 
appoint  some  other  person  ;  and  that  Mr.  Vesey,  the  two  Church 
Wardens,  or  either  of  them,  and  Mr.  Livingston,  be  a  committee  to 
prepare  the  same.  And  it  is  further  ordered,  that  a  subscription 
paper  be  prepared  and  carryed  about  for  Mr.  Colgan,  to  commence 
from  the  first  of  November  next. 

The  Committee  appointed  by  the  last  Vestry  to  prepare  a  letter 
to  the  Venerable  Society  for  propagating  the  Gospell  in  foreign  parts, 
to  appoint  the  Reverend  Mr.  Colgan  to  officiate  here  in  the  stead 
of  the  Reverend  Mr.  Wetmore,  presented  to  this  Board  a  letter  for 
that  purpose,  which  was  read  in  these  words  following,  viz. 

New-York  October  17*   1726. 
Rev'd  S'r  : 

We,  the  Rector,  Church  Wardens  and  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church, 
in  the  City  of  New-York,  in  America,  did,  some  time  agoe,  in  a  most 
humble  manner  pray  the  Honorable  Society  to  send  a  Catechist  in 
Priests'  Orders  to  officiate  here,  if  they  should  be  pleased  to  order  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Wetmore  to  settle  in  Rye,  where  he  had  been  legally 
called  and  Inducted,  pursuant  to  an  Act  of  Assembly  of  this  Province. 
But  since  that  Address,  the  Reverend  Mr.  Colgan  is  arrived,  with 
orders  to  officiate  as  the  Society's  Missionary  at  Rye,  but  finding  that 
Mr.  Wetmore  had  a  great  desire  to  live  there,  and  the  Vestry  of  that 
Town  very  much  inclined  that  he  should  settle  among  them,  he  being 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  47 

called  by  them,  born  in  the  Country,  and  best  acquainted  with  their 
tempers,  has  agreed  to  an  exchange  if  the  Society  should  be  pleased 
to  approve  of  it. 

Wee  therefore  heartily  concur  with  them  and  the  Vestry  of  Rye  in  ad- 
dressing  that  Venerable  Body,  humbly  to  desire  that  they  would  please 
to  confirm  that  agreement,  and  to  order  the  Reverend  Mr.  Colgan  to 
officiate  here  if  they  have  not  already  appointed  another  Catechist,  for 
such  an  exchange,  as  we  humbly  conceive  will,  in  the  present  posture 
of  affairs,  prevent  some  trouble  and  confusion,  and  most  effectually 
promote  the  great  end  and  design  of  the  Society's  pious  and  charitable 
endeavours,  the  peace  and  prosperity  of  the  Church,  and  the  interest 
of  Religion  in  those  parts.  And  tho'  we  have  a  great  regard  for  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Wetmore,  whose  life  and  conversation  is  unexcep- 
tionable, and  have  hitherto  expressed  it  by  our  subscriptions  accord- 
ing to  our  abilitys,  yet  inasmuch,  as  he  can't  be  so  well  heard  and 
understood  in  our  large  Church,  and  since  his  call  and  Induction  to 
Rye,  we  are  not  sure  of  raising  a  sufficient  support  for  his  family  by 
voluntary  subscriptions  ;  Whereas  Mr.  Colgan's  clear,  distinct  and 
loud  voice,  can  reach  the  remotest  hearers  in  the  Church,  where  he 
has  read  divine  service  and  preached  with  great  applause,  and  this 
with  his  Recommendations  from  England  gives  him  a  prospect  of 
doing  more  good  than  in  that  parish  to  which  he  was  sent,  and  leaves 
us  no  room  to  doubt  of  raising  so  much  by  subscriptions  as,  with  the 
Society's  annual  allowance,  may  be  a  suitable  encouragement  to 
him  to  continue  among  us.  All  which  is  nevertheless  most  humbly 
submitted  to  the  consideration  of  the  Honble  Society  by  us,  who 
sincerely  pray  for  their  Temporall  and  Eternall  Happiness,  and 
subscribe  ourselves  their  and  your  much  obliged  and  most  humble 
servants. 
To  the  Reverend  Mr.  David  Humphreys,  Secretary  to  the  Honorable 

Society  for  propagating  the  Gospell  in  foreign  parts. 

The  Church  Wardens  and  Vestry  Men  desired  the  favour  of  Revd 
Mr.  Vesey,  that  when  the  Reverend  Mr.  Colgan  comes  to  town  from 
his  Parish  of  Rye,  he  may  have  the  liberty  of  reading  prayers  and 
preaching  in  the  afternoon,  which  request  Mr.  Vesey  readily  granted 
and  consented  to. 

Mr.  Vesey  presented  to  this   Board  a  letter  from  the  Revd  Mr. 


48  HISTORY   OF 

David  Humphreys,  Secretary  to  the  Society,  which  was  read  in  the 
words  following,  vizt. 

London,  Sepf  19th,  1726. 
Rev'd  Sir  : 

I  have  communicated  to  the  Society  the  letter  from  yourself,  and 
the  Church  Wardens  and  Vestry  of  your  parish,  and  upon  considering 
the  state  of  your  parish,  as  represented  there,  they  have  agreed  to 
send  a  Catechist  to  succeed  Mr.  Wetmore,  to  continue  to  Instruct 
the  Negroes  and  other  Slaves  in  the  principles  of  the  Christian 
Religion.  The  Society  have  also  agreed  that  such  Catechist  shall 
assist  you  in  your  parochial  Cure,  but  with  this  consideration,  that 
the  people  who  have  subscribed  to  Mr.  Wetmore  doe  continue  to  pay 
the  same  subscriptions  to  the  Catechist  the  Society  sends,  above 
the  salary  which  the  Society  shall  allow  him.  I  am,  Reverend  Sr, 
Your  most  humble  Servant, 

David  Humphreys,  Sec'y. 

P.  S. — The  Society  have  agreed  to  send  a  Missionary  to  Albany, 

To  the  Revd  Mr.  Vesey,  New- York. 

In  answer  to  which,  the  following  letter  was  wrote,  vizt. 

New.York,  December  27th,  1726. 
Reverend  Sir  : 

This  day  Mr.  Vesey  communicated  to  us,  in  Vestry,  your's  of 
the  nineteenth  of  September  last,  wherein  you  inform  us  that  the 
Honble  Society  has  been  pleased  to  agree  to  send  a  Catechist  to 
succeed  Mr.  Wetmore,  and  to  assist  our  Minister  in  his  parochial 
cure.  We  are  very  sensible  of  their  great  goodness  and  charity,  in 
continuing  the  office  of  a  Catechist,  to  Instruct  the  great  numbers  of 
Negro  Slaves  in  this  city  in  the  principles  of  Religion,  do  most 
gratefully  acknowledge  the  favour  thereby  intended  to  our  Infant 
Church,  and  shall  cheerfully  contribute  to  his  support  according  to 
our  several  ability. 

Wee  observe  that  the  Catechist  is  to  assist  our  Minister,  on  con- 
sideration that  the  subscriptions  shall  amount  to  the  same  given  Mr. 
Wetmore.  We  make  no  doubt  of  raising  as  much  for  a  good 
preacher,  who  can  be  clearly  understood,  and  distinctly  heard ;  and 
if  the   Society   would   be  so  favourable   to   us,   as   to   appoint  the 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  49 

Reverend  Mr.  Colgan  Catechist,  we  believe  the  people  would  more 
generously  subscribe,  for  the  Congregation  is  very  much  pleased 
with  his  preaching  and  reading  divine  service  ;  his  voice  is  clear  and 
distinct,  and  reaches  to  the  remotest  parts  of  our  large  Church. 
However,  by  this  we  would  not  be  understood  to  prescribe  to  our 
Superiours,  but  humbly  beg  it  as  a  favour  of  great  importance  to  the 
Interest  of  our  Church  and  Religion  in  this  place,  and  shall,  never- 
theless, readily  submitt  to  their  most  prudent  choice  and  determina- 
tion, and  on  all  occasions  endeavour  to  approve  ourselves  the 
Society's  and  your  much  obliged  and  most  obedient  humble  Servants. 
Which  letter  was  approved  of,  and  signed,  by  all  the  members 
present,  and  ordered  that  the  Church  Wardens  do  send  down  the 
same  by  some  safe  hand  to  Capt.  Downing,  who  went  away  this 
afternoon. 

Mr.  William  Huddlestone,  whose  appointment  has 
been  already  noticed,  laboured  faithfully  and  success- 
fully for  thirteen  years  in  his  useful  calling  as  School- 
master for  the  Society,  for  which  he  received  the 
very  moderate  compensation  of  £15  sterling  per 
annum.  He  was  also  appointed  the  Clerk  of  the 
Vestry,  at  a  salary  of  £20  a  year,  New-York  cur- 
rency, and  likewise  Clerk  of  the  Church,  for  which 
he  received  £10  a  year.  It  is  a  little  remarkable, 
that,  like  Mr.  Ncau,  he  also  was  an  object  of  so  much 
consideration,  as  to  have  been  elected  annually  a 
vestryman  of  Trinity  Church,  from  1697  to  1714. 

Mr.  William  Huddlestone  was  succeeded  by  his 
son,  Thomas  Huddlestone,  the  appointment  having 
been  made  by  the  Society,  on  the  recommendation  of 
Mr.  Vesey  and  the  Mayor  of  New-York.  The  latter 
also  appeared  before  the  Board,  and  proposed  to 
execute  the  office  of  Clerk  of  Trinity  Church,  for 
fees  incident  and  belonging  to  the  same,  as  they  were 


5  )  HISTORY  OF 

established,  and  had  been  usually  taken  by  his  father 
and  predecessor,  and  that  without  any  salary  or  other 
reward.  And  the  said  proposals  having  been  consid- 
ered by  the  Vestry,  he  was  unanimously  chosen.  In 
a  liberal  spirit,  however,  gratuities  were  made  to 
him  at  times  of  £6,  £10  and  £16  for  his  past  services, 
and  for  his  future  encouragement  and  better  subsist- 
ence, and  a  salary  was  finally  allowed  him  of  £15  per 
annum. 

In  addition  to  his  stated  duty  to  his  scholars,  on 
t!  e  death  of  Mr.  Neau,  he  also  taught  the  blacks 
in  the  steeple  of  Trinity  Church  every  Sunday  before 
sermon,  and  after  sermon  at  his  own  house. 

On  the  death  of  Mr.  Thomas  Huddlestone,  it  was 
ordered  by  the  Vestry, 

That  Mr.  Vesey,  the  Church  Wardens,  Mr.  Livingston  and  Mr. 
Chambers,  be  a  comittee  to  prepare  an  humble  address  to  the 
Venerable  Society  for  propagating  the  Gospell  in  foreign  parts,  that 
they  will  favourably  be  pleased  to  appoint  Mr.  Thomas  Noxon  their 
schoolmaster  in  this  city,  and  to  continue  their  salary  for  that  purpose. 
And  the  said  Mr.  Noxon  having  undertaken  that  the  office  of  Clerk  to 
the  Church  shall  be  officiated  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Vestry,  he  is 
thereupon  appointed  and  chosen  Clerk  accordingly;  This  address 
was  drawn  up,  and  signed,  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

New-York,  the  30th  of  October,  1731. 
Reverend  Sir  : 

It  having  pleased  Allmighty  God  to  take  unto  himself  Mr. 
Thomas  Huddlestone,  the  Society's  Schoolmaster,  in  this  city,  wee, 
the  Rector,  Church  Wardens,  and  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  most 
humbly  entreat  that  Venerable  Body  to  continue  that  charity,  which 
has  hitherto  been  of  great  use  and  service  to  the  poor  children  of  this 
place,  as  well  as  a  nursery  to  our  Infant  Church,  in  bringing  up  and 
instructing  them  in  the  principles  of  our  Most  Holy  Religion  ;  and  if 
the  Society  would  be   favourably   pleased  to  appoint  Mr.  Thomas 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  51 

Noxon,  of  this  city,  in  that  office,  we  should  esteem  it  a  singular 
favour,  he  having  been  for  many  years  past  (and  still  is)  one  of  our 
Vestry,  a  person  of  exemplary  piety  and  vertue,  and  instrumental  in 
bringing  several  persons  to  our  Communion,  and  one  whom  we 
persuade  ourselves  will  discharge  that,  duty  with  the  utmost  diligence 
and  faithfulness. 

Sir,  we  conceive  it  necessary  to  acquaint  you,  we  are  informed  the 
Widdow  Huddlestone,  mother  to  the  deceased,  immediately  after  her 
eon's  death  got  an  address  drawn  up  to  the  Honble  Society,  in  order 
to  have  the  school  and  their  bounty  conferred  on  her ;  and  as  she  or 
her  daughter  carried  the  same  about,  they  got  several  Inhabitants  of 
this  city  to  sign  the  same  in  her  favour,  some  of  them,  as  we  believe, 
induced  thereto  by  meer  compassion,  and  others  not  only  by  that,  but 
also  believing  it  was  approved  of  and  countenanced  by  us  ;  and  this 
address  we  expect  will  be  transmitted  you  by  this  or  the  next  conveyance, 
in  which,  had  it  been  offered  to  us,  we  would  readily  and  heartily  have 
joined,  could  we  have  thought  Mrs.  Huddlestone,  in  her  advanced 
years,  a  person  proper  or  capable  to  discharge  a  trust  or  duty  of  such 
great  importance  both  to  the  City  and  Church. 

But  as  we  cannot  recommend  her  as  such,  yet  we  humbly  beg 
leave  to  recommend  her  and  her  poor  family  to  the  Venerable  Society, 
as  objects  worthy  of  their  charity,  both  husband  and  son  having  been 
faithful]  servants  to  them  in  the  discharge  of  their  respective  duties. 
We  are,  Rcvd  Sr, 

Your  much  obliged  and  most  h'ble  servts. 

The  Society  having  graciously  yielded  to  both 
these  requests,  the  following  letter  of  thanks  was 
returned  by  the  Vestry : 

New-York,  May,  1732. 
Rev.  Sir  : 

We,  the  Rector,  Church  Wardens,  and  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church 
in  this  city,  beg  leave  to  acquaint  you,  the  Reverend  Mr.  Charlton 
communicated  to  us  your  Letter  of  the  thirteenth  of  December  last, 
by  which  we  are  Informed  that  the  Society  have  been  pleased  to 
condescend  to  our  joint  request  in  appointing  him  Catechist,  in  the 
room  of  Mr.   Colgan  ;    and  by  your  favour  of  the  twenty-fourth  of 


52  HISTORY   or 

February  following,  you  are  pleased  to  acquaint  us  that  that  Venerable 
Body,  in  regard  to  our  Recommendation,  have  been  favourably  pleased 
to  appoint  Mr.  Thomas  Noxon  to  succeed  Mr.  Huddle  stone  as  school- 
master, and  to  order  a  gratuity  of  Twenty  pounds  to  Mrs.  Huddlestone  ; 
for  all  which  favours,  we  readily  embrace  this  first  opportunity  of 
returning  our  most  humble  and  hearty  thanks  to  the  Honble  Society, 
and  beg  leave  to  assure  them  we  shall  not  only  be  very  cautious  in 
our  recommendations,  but  likewise,  upon  all  occasions  in  our  power, 
endeavour  to  encourage  and  further  their  pious  intentions,  and  pur- 
suant to  their  commands  signified  in  your  said  letter,  we  hereby  certify, 
that  the  said  Wm.  Noxon  began  to  teach  school  on  the  twenty-second 
day  of  April  last,  and  we  have  appointed  the  Rector,  Church  Wardens, 
and  some  of  the  Vestry  a  Comittee,  to  visit  the  said  school  from  time 
to  time,  as  occasion  shall  require,  to  certify  the  number  of  scholars, 
management,  and  progress  thereof,  who  have  this  day  visited  his 
school,  and  found  in  it  upwards  of  forty  poor  children  under  his 
Instruction.  All  which  we  desire  you  to  acquaint  the  Honble 
Society  of,  which,  with  our  sincere  prayers  to  Allmighty  God  for 
their  prosperity  and  happiness,  concludes  us  both  their  and  your  much 
obliged  and  most  obedient  servants. 
Which  was  approved  of  and  signed. 

Mr.  Noxon,  at  the  time  he  received  the  appointment  as  School- 
master of  the  Society,  had  been  eighteen  years  a  member  of  the 
Vestry.  The  discharge  of  his  various  duties,  therefore,  being  too 
laborious  for  him,  he  informed  the  Board,  that  by  reason  of  his  being 
advanced  in  Years,  he  was  desirous  to  surrender  his  Office  as  Clerk 
of  the  Church,  provided  the  Vestry  would  be  pleased  to  continue  him 
therein  untill  the  19th.  day  of  October  next,  at  which  time  his  Year 
would  be  compleat  and  Expire.  And  Mr.  Man,  who  Officiated  in 
setting  and  singing  the  Psalms,  having  declared  his  willingness  and 
consent  to  continue  the  same  under  Mr.  Noxon,  upon  his  being  paid 
half  the  salary  allowed  Mr.  Noxon,  according  to  their  agreement,  until 
that  time,  the  said  proposal  was  agreed  to  by  this  Board. 

It  was  ordered,  the  Church  Wardens  should  pay  to  Mr.  Noxon 
a  year's  salary  which  was  due  to  him ;  and  that  they  should  pay 
unto  the  said  Mr.  Man  three  Pounds  for  half  a  Year's  service  under 
Mr.  Noxon,  at  the  request  of  the  Church  Wardens. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  53 

Mr.  Noxon  continued  his  labours  with  fidelity  and 
success,  until  worn  out  with  age  and  infirmities,  he 
at  length  resigned  his  employment  in  1741 ;  and  upon 
the  recommendation  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Commissary 
Vesey,  and  the  Church  Wardens  and  Vestry,  together 
with  that  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Charlton,  the  Society 
appointed  Mr.  Hildreth  in  his  place. 

The  project  of  enlarging  Trinity  Church,  was 
brought  forward  in  the  Vestry  in  the  year  1718  ;  but 
the  work  does  not  appear  to  have  been  fully  com- 
pleted until  1737.  It  was  originally,  as  has  been 
already  remarked,  a  small  square  edifice,  but  finally 
was  of  an  oblong  form,  being  72  feet  in  width,  and 
148  feet  in  length.  From  the  sketch  of  it,  which 
was  afterwards  taken  when  in  ruins,  and  from  the 
accounts  of  many  aged  people  who  still  remember 
it,  it  appears  to  have  been  a  well-proportioned  and 
imposing  edifice. 

There  are  several  entries  on  the  minutes  in  regard 
to  the  details  of  the  plan,  which  are  somewhat  curious, 
biit  no  general  description. 

Ordered,  that  the  Church  be  enlarged  as  far  as  the  Street,  &  that 
Mr.  Bickley,  Capt.  Clarke,  Mr.  Peter  Barberie,  Mr.  Jn°.  Moore, 
Mr.  Balme,  &  Mr.  Jos.  Reade,  or  any  four  of  them,  be  appointed  a 
Committee  to  consider  what  forme  may  be  most  proper,  and  report 
the  same  to  this  Board. 

Mr.  Bickley  proposed  to  this  Board,  that  a  Gallery  may  be  built 
over  his  Excellency's  Pew;  and  that  his  Excellency  having  been 
acquainted  therewith,  was  pleased  to  acquiesce  therein.  Whereupon 
it  is  resolved,  Nemine  contradicente,  that  a  Gallery  be  built  from 
the  old  Gallery  over  his  Excellency's  pew,  and  the  Batchelors'  pew, 
to  the  wall. 

Ordered,  that  a  New  Gallery  be   built  over   the  West  Gallery, 


54  HISTORY    OF 

if  the  charge  thereof  can  be  defrayed  by  subscriptions  ;  and  when 
built,  the  front  pews  to  be  appropriated  to  Housekeepers  and  their 
wives,  Masters  of  vessels  and  their  wives,  and  School  Masters  and 
their  wives ;  and  the  range  of  pews  at  Each  end  of  the  said  Gallery, 
for  Mr.  Jenny's  &  Mr.  Huddle  stone's  scholars — Mr.  Jenny  to  have  the 
first  choice.     The  two  ranges  of  pews  in  the  middle,  to  be  in  common. 

The  methods  by  which  the  money  was  raised, 
seems  to  have  been  in  part  by  loans,  but  principally 
by  the  sale  of  pews,  and  the  voluntary  contributions 
of  the  parishioners.*  A  list  of  those  who  were  pur- 
chasers of  the  pews,  and  the  prices  which  were  given 
for  them,  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix,t  as  well  as 
the  names  of  the  contributors  and  the  sums  they 
subscribed.^  They  will,  no  doubt,  be  examined  with 
curiosity  and  interest,  by  all  who  are  in  any  way 
connected  with  the  Parish. 

In  the  enlargement  of  the  Church,  the  pulpit  was 
taken  from  the  situation  which  it  had  formerly  occu- 
pied, and  was  placed  on  the  side  of  the  north  wall. 
By  this  change,  which  made  of  course  an  alteration 
with  respect  to  it,  in  the  relative  position  of  the  pews, 
many,  as  is  the  case  in  the  new  church  at  the  present 
day,  were  greatly  incommoded. 

It  was  therefore  ordered,  that  the  Church  Wardens,  Mr.  Hors- 
manden,  Mr.  Watts,  Mr.  Chambers,  Mr.  Reade,  Mr.  Moore,  Mr.  Sou- 
maine,  Mr.  Searle,  Mi.  Hamersley,  Mr.  Crooke,  Mr.  Nicholls, 
Mr.  Duane,  or  any  seven,  (one  of  the  Church  Wardens  to  be  one,) 
should  be  a  committee,  to  treat  with  such  persons  as  were  dissatisfyed 
with  their  Pews  since  the  removall  of  the  pulpitt,  and  to  agree  with 
them  in  the  best  manner  they  could. 

In  the  brief  description   which  has  already  been 
*  See  Appendix  F.  f  Appendix  G.  ^  Appendix  H. 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  55 

given  of  the  interior  of  this  church,  it  was  said  to 
have  been  more  highly  ornamented  than  any  other 
in  the  city.  Three  full  sets  of  Communion  plat)* 
had  been  bestowed  on  it  by  the  bounty  of  the  Grown, 
in  the  reigns  of  William  and  Mary,  Queen  Ann,  a;id 
one  of  the  Georges,  inscribed  with  the  initials  of  I  he 
names  of  the  donors,  and  the  royal  arms.  An  alar 
piece  was  prepared,  according  to  the  plan  of  Mr.  Ro- 
bert Elliston,  towards  which  he  himself  contributed 
£20.  The  furniture  of  the  Communion  table,  the 
desk,  and  pulpit,  from  an  entry  on  the  minutes, 
appear    to    have   been   of  the    richest    and   costliest 

kind.t 

Capt.  Richard  Jeffreys  and  Capt.  Nathaniel  Rich- 
ards made  a  present  to  the  Church  of  two  glass 
branches,  and  some  broad  gold  lace  ;  for  which 
generous  gifts  the  Vestry  returned  them  their  thanks, 

*  Another  was  presented  at  a  later  period,  by  Governor  Tryon. 
Besides  these,  there  were  several  smaller  gifts  of  the  same  kind,  from 
private  persons,  at  different  times.  A  very  handsome  silver  basin, 
from  Mr.  Robert  Elliston,  to  receive  the  offerings  at  the  Communion. 
Two  for  the  same  purpose  from  Mrs.  Leaver,  in  the  recollection  of 
whose  kindness,  permission  was  given  her  by  the  Vestry,  to  sit  in 
the  pew  next  to  the  wall  on  the  right  hand  of  the  Governor's,  during 
her  life.     And  another  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Barclay. 

j-  Col.  Robinson,  one  of  the  Wardens  of  the  Church,  acquainted 
the  Board,  that  Capt.  Farmar  had  brought  him  from  England,  crimson 
damask  for  a  new  set  of  furniture  for  the  Communion  table,  pulpit, 
and  reading  desk,  with  fringe,  lining,  and  tassels  for  the  same ; 
which  cost  forty-two  pounds  eleven  shillings  and  threepence  sterling. 

Upon  which,  Col.  Robinson  was  ordered  by  the  Vestry  to  deliver 
to  Mr.  Peter  Jay,  the  old  Communion  cloth,  pulpit  cloth,  and  desk 
cloth,  for  the  use  of  the  Church  at  Rye,  in  Westchester  County. 


56  HISTORY    OF 

and  offered  them  the  choice  of  a  pew  for  their  free  use, 
either  in  the  north  or  south  gallery.  An  order  was 
passed,  that  Col.  Robinson  should  cause  these  to  be 
hung  up  in  the  Church,  leaving  a  proper  distance  for 
a  handsome  large  branch  in  the  middle  5  and  that  he 
should  send  to  England  for  one,  according  to  a  draft 
which  was  made  for  the  purpose.  It  would  seem, 
however,  that  it  was  afterwards  resolved  to  have  it 
made  after  a  more  tasteful  pattern,  prepared  by 
John  Ogilvie,  of  London,  and  that  Capt.  Wm.  Bryant 
was  to  agree  with  him  in  the  best  manner  he  could, 
for  the  charge  he  had  been  at  in  forming  the  model, 
but  nevertheless  at  an  expence  that  should  not  exceed 
£10  sterling.  From  the  cost  of  the  model,  we  may 
infer  the  great  beauty  of  the  branch,  and  the  value 
of  the  smaller  ones,  if  they  were  at  all  in  keeping 
with  the  larger. 

The  organ  was  built  by  Mr.  John  Clemm,  for  the 
sum  of  £520,  New-York  currency,  to  which  the 
Vestry,  with  their  accustomed  liberality,  added  a 
gratuity  of  £40. 

In  the  pressing  wants  of  the  Corporation,  during 
this  period  and  for  some  time  after,  a  number  of  gifts 
and  bequests  were  made  to  it : 

Mr.  Reade,  one  of  the  Church  Wardens,  communicated  to  this 
Board  a  letter  from  Mr.  John  Cottain,  purporting  that  he  had  sent 
a  present  of  Forty  half  Barrells  of  Flour,  for  the  maintenance  of  the 
Poor  of  the  English  Church ;  and  that  he  had  received  the  same 
by  Mr.  Cornelius  Low,  from  Esopus ;  which  said  flour  weighed 
65  cwt.  12  lbs. ;  and  that  he  had  disposed  of  the  same  to  Mr.  Ste- 
phen De  Lancey,  at  lis.  per  Hundred,  which  amounted  in  the  whole 
to  £38  19s.  lid.  New-York  money. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  57 

A  legacy  was  left  to  Trinity  Church  by  Mrs.  Mark- 
ham,  the  amount  of  which  is  not  specified. 

Joseph  Wright  bequeathed  to  it  all  his  real  and 
personal  estate.  The  Vestry  retained  his  house,  but 
ordered  the  Churchwardens  to  dispose  of  his  wear- 
ing apparel  and  household  goods,  to  distribute  the 
proceeds  thereof  among  his  relations  and  such  others 
as  they  might  see  fit,  and  to  pay  his  debts  and  funeral 
charges. . 

Col.  Abraham  Depeyster  bequeathed  to  it  £50  5 
and  the  Churchwardens  were  ordered  to  agree 
with  his  children,  as  to  the  ornament  (for  the  Church) 
to  which  they  would  have  it  applied. 

Mr.  Joseph  Murray  left  £100  for  the  use  of  the 
poor  in  Trinity  Parish,  of  which  he  was  long  a  Warden ; 
and  Paul  Richards,  Esq.  £50,  for  the  same  purpose. 

And  Mr.  Thomas  Duncan  bequeathed  to  it  £500. 

There  is  also  a  register  on  the  minutes,  of  valuable 
books  presented  by  the  Bishop  of  London  and  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Bray,  towards  laying  the  foundation  of  a 
Parochial  Library  in  New-York,  for  the  use  of  the 
Ministers  of  Holy  Trinity  Church.  In  1733,  there 
was  another  choice  gift  of  books  in  Divinity,  from 
Robert  Elliston,  Gent-,  Comptroller  of  His  Majesty's 
Customs,  to  Holy  Trinity  Church  Library  in  [Yew- 
York  City ;  and  a  second  from  the  same  in  1744. 
The  catalogue  of  these  several  collections  fills  nine 
pages  folio  in  manuscript.  They  were  for  a  long  time 
kept  in  an  upper  room  on  the  north-east  corner  of 
St.  Paul's  Chapelj  where  there  is  now  a  passage- way 
to  the  gallery  5  and  on  the  establishment  of  the 
General  Theological  Seminary  in  this  city,  they 
4 


58  HISTORY    OF 

were  given  to  that  Institution,  as  a  foundation  for  a 
Library. 

On  the  arrival  of  each  new  Governor  in  the 
Province,  it  was  the  custom  of  the  Vestry  to  present 
an  address  to  him,  of  which  the  following  is  a  favour- 
able specimen: 

This  Board  having  agreed  to  address  his  Excellency  the  Governour, 
an  address  was  prepared,  and  read  in  the  words  following,  viz. 

TO  HIS  EXCELLENCY  GEORGE  CLINTON,  ESQ.,  CAPTAIN-GENERAL  AND 
GOVERNOTJR-IN-CHIEF  OF  THE  PROVINCE  OF  NEW-YORK,  AND  TERRI- 
TORIES THEREON  DEPENDING  IN  AMERICA,  AND  THE  VICE-ADMIRAL 
OF  THE   SAME,  ETC. 

May  it  please  your  Excellency  : 

We,  the  Rector,  Church  Wardens,  and  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church, 
from  a  just  sense  of  the  manifold  blessings  which  we  enjoy  under  his 
Majesty's  government,  esteem  it  our  duty  to  take  this  first  opportunity 
of  acknowledging  his  paternal  care,  in  sending  a  gentleman  to  represent 
him  here  in  these  his  distant  dominions,  whose  noble  descent  and 
personall  merits  have  justly  preferred  him  to  his  Royall  esteem,  and 
whose  dictates  and  natural  inclinations  to  make  the  people  whom  he 
governs  easy  and  happy,  do  so  nearly  resemble  those  virtues  of  his 
Royall  Master,  the  best  of  Kings. 

We  also  beg  leave  to  congratulate  your  Excellency's  safe  and 
happy  arrival,  with  that  of  your  lady  and  family,  in  this  Your  Govern- 
ment of  New- York,  where  we  assure  your  Excellency,  we,  in  our 
respective  stations,  will  evidence  our  affection  and  duty  to  his  Majesty, 
by  a  dutiful  submission  to  Your  Excellency,  whom  he  hath  appointed 
to  rule  over  us. 

And  as  it  is  with  pleasure  and  gratitude  we  reflect  on  the  many 
Royal  favours  vouchsafed  our  Infant  Church  from  its  first  foundation,  so 
it  is  with  equall  pleasure  that  we  promise  ourselves  protection  and 
countenance  in  the  secure  enjoyment  of  all  our  Religious  Rights  and 
priviledges  under  your  Excellency's  wise  and  just  administration. 

May  Almighty  God  direct  and  prosper  your  government,  for  the 
advancement  of  his  glory,  and  the  welfare  of  the  province;  and  may 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  59 

Your  Excellency,  your  lady  ami  family,  be  blest  with  health  and 
happiness  in  this  world,  and  finally  inherit  eternal  life,  are  the  sincere 
prayers  of  your  Excellency's  most  obedient  servants. 

Which  address  was  approved  of,  and  signed  by  the  members  present. 
and  ordered  thai  Col1  Moore  and  Mr.  Nicholls  wait  on  his  Excel- 
lency, to  know  when  and  where  he  will  be  attended  with  the  said 
address  ;  who  accordingly  waited  on  his  Excellency,  and  reported  to 
this  Board  that  his  Excellency  would  be  ready  to  receive  this  Board 
at  the  house  of  Mr.  Williams,  at  eleven  o'clk  on  Tuesday  Morning 
next. 

On  the  thirtieth  day  of  September,  1743,  the  Rector,  Church 
Wardens,  and  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  pursuant  to  the  above  order, 
malted  on  his  Excellency  Governour  Clinton,  with  their  address,  to 
which  his  Excellency  was  pleased  to  make  the  following  answer,  vizt. 

Gentlemen  : 

I  return  my  thanks  for  your  kind  address  upon  my  safe  arrival], 
with  my  family,  to  my  Government ;  and  as  nothing  can  recommend 
me  more  to  my  Royall  Master  than  a  firm  resolution  to  make  the 
people  under  my  Government  easy  and  happy,  so  your  Church  in 
particular  may  be  assured  of  my  countenance  and  protection,  in  the 
secure  enjoyment  of  all  your  religious  rights  and  priviledges. 
30th  Septr,  1743.  G.  Clinton. 

Upon  the  removal  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Colgan  to 
Jamaica,  who  had  been  acting  for  many  years  as 
Catechist  and  Assistant  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Vesey,  at  the 
request  of  the  Corporation  of  Trinity  Church  to  the 
Society  for  propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Charlton  was  appointed  his  successor. 
The  long  and  consistent  service  of  this  servant  of  the 
Lord,  in  the  same  humble,  but  important  office  of 
Catechist  to  the  slaves,  demands  a  brief,  though  imper- 
fect notice.  He  was  in  the  habit  every  Sunday  of 
teaching  and  explaining  the  Church  Catechism,  and 
was   reported   by   Mr.   Vesey   to   have   given   great 


60  HISTORY   OF 

satisfaction  to  the  people,  and  to  have  crowned  all 
with  a  good  life.  From  his  appointment  at  New- 
York,  in  1732,  to  1740,  he  had  baptized  two  hundred 
and  nineteen  blacks,  of  whom  twenty-four  were 
adults.*  The  next  year  he  had  seventy  black  and 
ninety  white  catechumens.  In  1746,  their  number 
had  considerably  increased,  and  he  could  plainly  dis- 
cover a  truly  pious  spirit  among  them. 

It  appears,  by  letters  from  the  missionaries  in  New- 
York,  that  about  this  period  this  province,  though 
much  less  disturbed  than  the  neighbouring  ones,  had 
not  been  without  trouble  from  Methodism  and  the 
new  light  $  in  which  such  a  deep  tincture  of  enthu- 
siasm had  appeared,  as  had  induced  many  thinking 
dissenters  to  come  to  our  churches  and  worship  God 
in  soberness  and  truth.  And  the  Rev.  Mr.  Commissary 
Vesey  writes,  that  the  several  boxes  of  books  from  the 
Society,  sent  through  his  care  to  their  missionaries, 
catechists,  and  schoolmasters,  had  done  good  service 
among  the  people,  and  that  they  were  very  greatly 
beholden  to  the  Society  for  their  constant  paternal 
care  and  bountiful  benefactions  to  them. 

In  1746,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Commissary  Vesey  trans- 
mitted to  the  Society  an  account  of  all  the  churches 
under  his  inspection,  and  it  gave  them  great  pleasure 
to  observe  the  wonderful  blessing  of  God  on  their 
pious  cares  and  endeavours  to  promote  the  Christian 
religion  in  these   remote   and   dark  corners   of  the 

*  In  1741  he  writes,  that  he  had  more  than  fifty  white  adult  catechu- 
mens, besides  a  great  nnmber  of  children,  and  that  his  catechetical 
lectures  were  well  attended. 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  61 

world,  and  the  great  success  that  had  attended  the 
faithful  labours  of  their  missionaries  in  the  conversion 
of  so  many  from  vile  errors  and  wicked  practices, 
to  the  faith  of  Christ ;  it  appearing  that  there  were 
twenty-two  churches  nourishing  and  increasing  within 
his  jurisdiction. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Vesey,  the  first  Rector  of  Trinity 
Church,  continued,  as  has  been  before  remarked, 
without  interruption  for  fifty  years  in  the  service  of 
the  Parish.  The  last  one  has  been  nearly  thirty-five 
years,  comprehending  together  more  than  one  half  of 
the  entire  period  of  its  existence.  What  were  the 
labours,  the  trials  and  discouragements  of  the  former 
in  his  parochial  cure,  or  what  were  the  fruits  of  his 
exertions  through  this  long  tract  of  time,  I  have  found 
no  opportunity  of  learning.  The  very  register  of  the 
baptisms  he  performed,  the  marriages  he  celebrated, 
the  funerals  he  attended,  which  would  have  furnished 
some  clue  to  them,  is  blotted  out  of  existence  5  being 
reported  by  tradition  to  have  been  destroyed  in  the 
great  conflagration  of  1776.  But  judging  from  the 
multitude  of  these  duties  which  were  discharged  by 
his  immediate  successors,  and  the  innumerable  calls 
upon  the  time  and  attention  of  most  clergymen  in 
large  towns  or  cities,  it  may  be  fairly  inferred  that  his 
burthens  were  heavy,  and  his  labours  abundant. 

Thus  divided  between  his  public  cares  and  the  more 
retired  duties  of  his  parish,  and  assisted  in  the  latter 
by  most  humble  and  conscientious  fellow-labourers, 
he  passed  a  long  life  in  usefulness  and  honour,  and 
was  at  length  gathered  to  his  fathers  in  peace. 


62  HISTORY    OF 

The  Churchwardens  and  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church, 
by  their  letter,  dated  December  5,  1746,  inform  the 
Society  of  the  death  of  the  very  worthy  Mr.  Com- 
missary Vesey,  in  a  good  old  age,  he  having  been 
Rector  of  that  Church  from  its  first  building,  in  the 
year  1697,  to  the  day  of  his  death,  the  11th  of  July, 
1746.  In  the  character  given  of  him  in  the  public 
papers  of  New-York,  he  is  represented  "  as  having 
conscientiously  performed  the  duties  of  his  office  with 
unwearied  diligence,  and  uncommon  abilities,  to  the 
general  satisfaction  and  applause  of  all.  And  as  he 
had  been  a  great  instrument  in  promoting  the  build- 
ing and  settlement  of  that  Church,  (when  there  were 
but  a  few  of  the  established  religion  here,)  so,  by  the 
blessing  of  God  upon  his  pious  and  earnest  endeav- 
ours, he  had  the  satisfaction  to  see  his  congregation 
from  time  to  time  increase,  the  building  enlarged  and 
beautified,  and  now,  at  last,  the  inward  pleasure  of 
leaving  in  peace  and  good  order  one  of  the  largest 
and  finest  churches  in  America,  with  a  very  consid- 
erable congregation,  which  justly  lament  their  almost 
irreparable  loss  in  him,  who,  in  his  private  life,  was 
truly  good,  of  a  grave,  thoughtful,  prudent  and 
discreet  disposition,  yet  very  affable,  cheerful  and 
good-natured  in  his  conversation ;  a  most  tender, 
affectionate  husband  ;  a  good,  indulgent  master ;  a 
faithful,  steady  friend  ;  and  beneficent  to  all. 

"  His  corpse  was  decently  interred  in  the  family 
vault,  attended  by  several  gentlemen  of  his  Majesty's 
Council,  most  of  the  principal  magistrates,  and  chiefest 
part  of  all  the  inhabitants  5  and  as  he  always  lived  a 
faithful  soldier  and  servant  to  his   great  Lord  and 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  03 

Maker,  so  he  bore  his  sickness  with  great  patience, 
resolution,  and  constancy  of  mind,  and  in  his  last 
moments  cheerfully  resigned  his  soul  into  his  hand 
who  summoned  him  hence,  to  receive  the  eulogy  in 
the  Gospel,  Well  done  thou  good  and  faithful  servant, 
enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord." 

I  know  not  how  I  can  more  beautifully  close  this 
first  epoch  in  the  history  of  our  Parish,  than  with  the 
termination  of  the  labours  of  him,  who  was  thus 
happily  connected  with  its  very  commencement. 

Immediately  after  this  event,  the  Board  considering 
the  great  loss  they  had  sustained  by  the  death  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Vesey,  and  not  being  willing  to  call  another 
Rector  till  they  had  duly  weighed  and  considered  the 
matter;  in  order  that  the  Church  might  be  duly  sup- 
plied during  the  vacancy,  passed  an  order  that  the 
Churchwardens  should  be  desired  to  write  to  the  min- 
isters of  this  and  the  neighbouring  provinces,  as  they 
should  think  proper,  to  preach  in  Trinity  Church  in 
their  turns. 


CHAPTER  II. 

In  the  brief  sketch  of  the  history  of  Trinity  Church 
which  I  proposed  to  give,  I  brought  down  the  account 
in  the  last  chapter  to  the  death  of  the  Reverend  and 
very  worthy  Commissary  Vesey,  first  Rector  of  the 
Parish.  The  Vestry,  as  it  appears  from  their  letter 
to  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in 
Foreign  Parts,  immediately  proceeded  to  the  appoint- 
ment of  another  in  his  place.  In  choosing  him  a 
successor,  they  profess  to  have  acted  with  all  the  care 
and  precaution  becoming  so  weighty  an  affair,  and 
they  inform  the  Society  that  they  have  elected  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Barclay,  their  missionary  at  Albany  and  to 
the  Mohock  Indians,  to  be  the  Rector  of  Trinity 
Church. 

The  Rev.  Henry  Barclay  was  father  of  the  late 
Thomas  Barclay,  Consul-General  of  his  Britannic 
Majesty  in  the  United  States,  so  well  known  and  so 
highly  esteemed  by  thousands  among  us,  and  whose 
place,  as  British  Consul,  is  at  this  moment  so  worthily 
filled  by  Mr.  Anthony  Barclay,  one  of  his  sons.  In 
the  strange  mutations  of  this  growing  and  changefu 
city,  it  is  an  interesting  circumstance  that  the  latter 
is  still  a  worshipper  in  our  Parish,  keeping  up  the 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  65 

connection  with  it  on  the  part  of  his  family  after  the 
lapse  of  a  hundred  years. 

In  announcing  the  appointment  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Barclay  to  the  Society,  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church 
take  occasion  to  remark,  that  though  they  are  well 
satisfied  with  his  qualifications,  and  have  a  great 
esteem  for  him,  they  should  not  have  presumed  to 
have  made  any  advances  for  his  removal,  had  they 
not  been  well  informed  of  the  many  and  great 
discouragements  he  had  met  with  in  his  mission  since 
the  war  with  France,  which  rendered  his  best  endeav- 
ours fruitless,  and  the  safety  of  his  person  precarious 
among  the  Indians  during  the  continuance  of  the  war. 

The  devotedness,  acceptableness,  and  success  of 
his  labours  amongst  this  unhappy  race,  though  not 
immediately  connected  with  our  present  subject,  seem 
nevertheless  worthy  of  some  hasty  notice.  He  was 
appointed  Catechist  to  the  Mohawk  Indians  in  1736, 
ten  years  before  his  election  to  the  Rectorship  of 
Trinity  Church.  At  that  time,  in  the  very  outset  of 
his  labours,  he  represents  to* the  Society  that  the 
prospect  of  converting  these  Indians  was  truly  great  5 
that,  as  far  as  he  could  learn,  they  were  desirous  of 
being  instructed  in  the  Gospel,  and  very  willing  to 
embrace  Christianity  $  and  that,  in  the  short  time  he 
had  been  among  them,  he  had  met  with  great  success. 
Having  performed  his  duties  as  Catechist  among  them 
very  satisfactorily,  in  the  following  year  he  was 
recommended  by  the  President  of  the  Council  of 
New-York,  by  the  Commissioners  of  Indian  Affairs, 
by  the  missionaries  and  inhabitants  of  the  province, 


66  HISTORY  or 

and  by  the  Rev.  Commissary  Vesey,  as  a  person  of 
good   morals   and   learning,   who    had    many   years 
applied  himself  with  great  diligence  to  attain  their 
language,  and  had  made  such  progress  as  actually  to 
instruct  and  catechise  them  and  their  children  in  the 
Mohawk  tongue.     The  Society  read  their  petitions 
with  great  pleasure,  and   sent   for   Mr.    Barclay  to 
England,  who,  on  his  appearance,  fully  answering  the 
good  character  transmitted  of  him,  was  ordained  both 
deacon  and  priest.     On  his  return  to  his  mission  he 
was  gladly  received  by  his  congregation  at  Albany, 
and  even  with  tears  of  joy  by  the  poor  Indians,  with 
whom  he  purposed  to  reside  half  of  his  time,  in  great 
hopes  of  being  serviceable  among  them;  and  these 
hopes,  by  the   blessing  of  God,  were  happily  fulfilled. 
For  Mr.  Barclay  informed  the  Society,  by  a  letter  of 
November  10th,  1738,  that  there  grew  a  daily  refor- 
mation  of  manners   among  the    Mohawks,  and   an 
increase  in  virtue  proportionable  to  their  knowledge, 
insomuch,  that  they  composed  a  regular  sober  congre- 
gation of  five  hundred  Christian  .Indians,  of  whom 
fifty  were  very  serious  communicants.     This  happy 
state  of  things  not  only  continued  for  many  years,  but 
the  moral  and  spiritual  condition  of  the  Indians  was 
constantly  and  gradually  improving,  until,  in  1744  and 
1745,  the  machinations  of  the  French  led  them  to 
disaffection  towards  their  rulers,  and  in  some  measure 
alienated  their  minds  from  their   pastor  himself.     In 
this  melancholy  situation,  he  received  the  news  of  his 
being    elected    Rector    of    Trinity     Church.      He 
remained  nearly  three  months  in  suspense,  out  of  a 
sincere  regard  for   the   interest  of  religion,   among 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  67 

the  native  Indians,  when,  seeing  no  prospect  of  being 
further  serviceable  to  them  at  present,  and  being  no 
longer  able  to  abide  with  safety  among  them,  he 
accepted  of  that  church,  and  was  inducted  into  it. 

Upon  the  election  of  Mr.  Barclay,  the  two  Church- 
wardens, Mr.  Horsmanden  and  Mr.  Chambers,  and 
Mr.  Nicholls,  were  appointed  a  Committee  to  write 
to  the  Bishop  of  London  and  the  Society,  acquainting 
them  with  the  death  of  their  late  Rector,  and  the 
choice  of  the  new,  and  to  lay  the  drafts  of  such 
letters  before  the  next  Vestry. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  third  Instant,  to  prepare  letters  to 
the  Right  Reverend  Father  in  God  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  and 
the  Venerable  Society  for  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  foreign 
parts,  produced  to  this  Board  letters  to  the  Bishop  of  London  and  the 
Society  :  that  to  the  Bishop  of  London  in  the  words  following,  vizt : 

New-York,  December  6th,  1746. 
My  Lord  : 

We,  the  Church  Wardens  and  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  under 
the  greatest  concern,  beg  leave  to  acquaint  Your  Lordship,  that  it 
hath  pleased  God  to  take  unto  himself  the  Reverend  Mr.  Vesey, 
Your  Lordship's  Commissary,  and  our  faithiull  pastor,  by  whose  death 
the  churches  in  general  over  which,  by  Your  Lordship's  favor,  he 
had  the  Inspection,  have  sustained  a  very  great,  and  our  own  in 
particular,  an  almost  irreparable  loss ;  tho',  by  the  blessing  of  Almighty 
God  upon  his  pious  endeavours  and  unwearied  diligence  for  the  space 
of  near  fitly  years  past,  he  had  the  inward  pleasure  of  leaving  in  peace 
and  good  order  one  of  the  largest  and  finest  churches  in  America, 
with  a  considerable  congregation,  who,  almost  with  one  voice,  named 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Barclay  to  succeed  Mr.  Vesey  as  Rector.  And  although 
we  were  well  satisfied  of  his  qualifications  in  all  respects,  yet,  as  he 
was  in  the  service  of  the  Honourable  Society,  and  had  been  instru- 
mentall  in  doing  a  vast  deal  of  good  among  the  Heathen,  we  should 
not,  upon  any  terms,  have  presumed  to  have  countenanced  the  calling 


68  HISTORY    OF 

of  him,  had  we  not  been  well  satisfied  that,  since  the  war  with 
France,  he  had  met  with  insupportable  discouragement,  which 
rendered  his  mission  and  best  endeavours  fruitless,  as  well  as  the 
safety  of  his  person  precarious  among  those  savages  in  the  Mohawks' 
Country — which,  with  many  other  parts  of  the  County  of  Albany, 
being  the  frontiers  of  the  province,  is  now  deserted  by  the  Christian 
Inhabitants,  and  almost  laid  waste  by  Barbarians  and  French ; 
all  which,  with  what  Mr.  Barclay  will  have  the  honour  of  writing  to 
Your  Lordship  upon  this  head,  we  humbly  hope  will  be  sufficient,  in 
Your  Lordship's  opinion  and  Judgment,  to  justifie  our  conduct  and 
proceedings  upon  this  important  occasion  ;  and  that  Your  Lordship 
(who  by  Divine  Providence,  is  appointed  the  great  shepherd  and 
Bishop  of  these  American  Churches)  will  approve  of  our  choice, 
and  give  us  leave  humbly  to  recommend  our  Rector  as  a  Gentle- 
man, worthy  of  Your  Lordship's  favour  and  countenance ;  And  that 
Your  Lordship  will  be  pleased  to  continue  your  paternall  care  and 
good  offices  to  our  Infant  Church,  which  we  shall  always  endeavour 
to  meritt,  and  remain  with  the  most  profound  respect,  My  Lord,  Your 
Lordship's  much  obliged,  and  most  obedient  humble  servts. 

And  that  to  the  Society,  in  the  words  following,  to  witt  : 

New-York,  December  the  5th,  1746. 
Reverexd  Sir — 

We,  the  Church  Wardens  and  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  in  the 
city  of  New- York,  begg  leave  to  acquaint  the  Honourable  Society, 
that  it  hath  pleased  Almighty  God  to  take  unto  himself  the  Revd 
Mr.  Vesey,  our  late  worthy  Rector,  by  whose  death  the  Church 
Wardens,  under  his  Inspection  as  Commissary,  have  sustained  a  con- 
siderable, and  our  own  an  almost  irreparable  loss.  And  as  we  have 
made  choice  of  the  Revd  Mr.  Barclay  to  succeed  him,  we  hope  our 
proceeding  therein  will  not  be  disagreeable  to  that  Venerable  Body, 
we  having  endeavoured  to  act  upon  this  important  occasion  with  all 
the  care  and  precaution  becoming  so  weighty  an  affair.  And  although 
we  have  a  great  esteem  for  Mr.  Barclay,  and  were  all  satisfied,  with 
his  qualifications  in  all  respects,  yet  we  should  not  have  presumed  to 
make  any  advances  for  his  removall,  had  we  not  been  well  satisfied 
of  the  many  and  great  discouragements  he  hath  mett  with  in  his 
mission  since  the  war  with  France,  which  rendered  his  best  endeav- 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  G9 

ours  fruitless,  and  the  safety  of  his  person  precarious  among  the 
savages  in  the  Mohawks'  Country,  at  least  during  the  continuance  of  the 
War  ;  which,  with  what  further  accounts  he  shall  give  the  Honourable 
Society  about  this  matter,  we  trust  will  be  satislactory,  and  Justine  his 
conduct  and  removal!  from  the  scat  of  War,  and  a  country  greatly 
deserted  by  the  Inhabitants,  and  almost  laid  waste  by  Barbarians. 

Reverend  Sir,  we  begg  our  humble  duty  may  be  presented  to  the 
Honourable  Society,  and  that  you  will,  upon  all  occasions,  be  pleased 
to  interpose  your  good  offices  for  the  continuance  of  their  favour  and 
bounty  towards  us,  which,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  and  the  care  and 
diligence  of  the  Rcvd  Mr.  Charlton,  their  Catechist,  prove  success- 
full,  and  greatly  tend  to  promote  their  pious  designs  to  the  Glory  of  God, 
and  the  Interest  of  our  Holy  Church  and  Religion  in  this  populous 
city,  amidst  the  many  different  sects  and  persuasions  of  its  inhabitants. 
So  heartily  recommending  the  Honourable  Society  to  the  favour  and 
protection  of  Almighty  God,  and  praying  for  their  health  and  happi- 
ness we  remain,  with  the  greatest  regard,  both  their  and  Your  Most 
obedient  humble  servants. 

Which  Letters  were  approved  off,  and  signed  by  this  Board. 

The  following  proceedings  took  place  upon  the 
election  and  induction  of  Mr.  Barclay : 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Vestry,  held  the  17th  day  of  October,  1746,  it 
was  resolved  and  ordered,  that  the  Reverend  Mr.  Henry  Barclay  be, 
and  the  said  Mr.  Henry  Barclay  is,  hereby  called  as  Rector  of  Trinity 
Church  in  this  city,  and  that  this  Board  present  the  said  Mr.  Barclay 
to  his  Excellency  the  Governour,  and  desire  he  may  be  admitted  and 
instituted  as  Rector  of,  and  Inducted  into  the  said  Church.  That  Mr. 
Horsmandcn  and  Mr.  Chambers  being  desired  to  wait  on  Mr.  Barclay, 
and  acquaint  him  with  the  Resolution  of  this  Board,  and  know 
whether  he  would  accept  of  the  call,  waited  on  hirn  accordingly,  who 
returned  and  introduced  Mr.  Barclay  into  the  Vestry,  where  he 
accepted  of  the  call.  And  thereupon  it  is  ordered,  that  Mr.  Murray, 
Mr.  Horsmanden,  Mr.  Chambers,  Mr.  Lodge,  and  Mr.  Nicholls,  be  a 
Committee  to  prepare  a  presentation  of  the  said  Mr.  Barclay  to  his 
Excellency  the  Governour. 

And  ordered,  that  the  Church  Wardens,  Mr.  Horsmanden,  Col1* 


70  HISTORY  OF 

Moore,  Mr.  Watts,  Mr.  Reade,  Mr.  Livingston,  or  any  three  of  them, 
one  of  the  Church  Wardens  being  one,  be  a  Committee  to  wait  on 
his  Excellency  the  Govern  our,  to  know  when  he  will  be  attended  by 
this  Board,  to  present  the  said  Mr.  Henry  Barclay  for  admission, 
institution  and  Induction,  as  Rector  of  Trinity  Church  aforesaid,  and 
that  they  make  their  report  thereof  to  the  next  Vestry. 

The  Committee  appointed  by  this  Board  the  17th  Instant,  to  wait 
on  his  Excellency  the  Governour  to  know  when  he  would  be  attended 
by  this  Board,  to  present  the  Revd  Mr.  Henry  Barclay  for  admission, 
institution  and  induction  as  Rector  of  Trinity  Church  in  this  city, 
Reported  to  this  Board  that  they  had  waited  on  his  Excellency 
accordingly,  who  appointed  five  o'clock  this  afternoon.  Then  the 
Committee,  appointed  the  same  day  to  prepare  a  presentation  of  the 
said  Mr.  Henry  Barclay  to  his  Excellency  the  Governour,  presented 
to  this  Board  the  said  presentation  in  the  words  following,  viz  : 

TO  HIS  EXCELLENCY  THE  HONOURABLE  GEORGE  CLINTON,  ESQ., 
CAPTAIN-GENERAL  AND  GOVERNOUR -IN-CHIEF  IN  AND  OVER  THE 
PROVINCE  OF  NEW-YORK,  AND  TERRITORIES  THEREON  DEPEND- 
ING, IN  AMERICA,  AND  VICE-ADMIRALL  OF  THE  SAME,  AND  VICE- 
ADMIRAL    OF   THE    RED    SQUADRON    OF    niS    MAJESTY'S    FLEET  : 

We,  the  Church  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  of  Trinity  Church,  in 
the  city  of  New-York,  in  Communion  of  the  Church  of  England,  as 
by  law  established,  the  true  and  undoubted  patrons  of  the  Rectory  of 
the  Parish  Church  of  Trinity  Church  aforesaid,  within  your  Govern- 
ment, in  all  reverence  and  obedience  to  Your  Excellency  due  and 
suitable,  send  Greeting,  in  our  Lord  God  Everlasting,  to  the  said 
parish  Church  of  Trinity  Church  aforesaid,  now  being  vacant  by  the 
natural  death  of  William  Vesey,  Clerk,  the  last  incumbent  in  the 
same,  and  to  our  Presentation  of  full  right  belonging,  our  beloved  in 
Christ,  Henry  Barclay,  Clerk  to  Your  Excellency,  by  these  presents 
we  do  present,  humbly  praying  that  you  would  vouchsafe  him,  the 
said  Henry  Barclay  to  the  same  Church,  to  admitt  him  into  the 
Rectory  of  the  same  Church  to  institute,  and  cause  to  be  inducted, 
with  all  its  rights,  members  and  appurtenances,  and  that  you  will, 
with  favour  and  effect,  do  and  fulfill  all  and  singular  those  things 
which  in  this  behalf  are  proper  and  fitting  for  your  Excellency  to  do. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  71 

In  testimony  whereof,  we,  the  Church  Wardens  and  Vestrymen 
aforesaid,  have  to  these  presents  put  our  hands  and  seals  this  twenty, 
second  day  of  October,  in  the  Year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  forty-six. 

Which  being  read  was  approved  off,  and  was  signed  and  sealed  by 
all  the  Members  present,  and  also  by  Edward  Holland,  Charles 
Crooke,  and  Robert  Elliston. 

Governour    Clinton's   admission   of    Mr.   Barclay  to  be   Rector  of 

Trinity  Church. 
&5LSLSJL&*  I'  George  Clinton,  Esq.,  Captain-Generall  and  Gover- 
•<  seal.  £  nour-in-Chief  of  the  Province  of  New-York,  and  Terri- 
©JHTStftf*  tories  thereon  depending,  in  America,  and  Vice-Admirall 
of  the  same,  and  Vice-Admirall  of  the  Red  Squadron  of  his  Majesty's 
fleet,  do  admitt  you,  Henry  Barclay,  Clerk,  able  to  be  Rector  of  the 
Parish  Church  of  Trinity  Church,  in  the  city  of  New- York.  Given 
under  my  hand  and  the  Prerogative  Seal  of  the  Province  of  New- 
York,  this  twenty-second  day  of  October,  in  the  Year  of  our  Lord 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  forty-six. 

G.  Clinton. 

Letters  of  Institution  by  Governour  Clinton  to  Mr.  Henry  Barclay. 

&SL&9.&SL®  I'  George  Clinton,  Esq.,  Captn-Generall  and  Governour- 
•j  seal.  >c  in-Chief  of  the  Province  of  New-York,  and  Territories 
©tfimfSd  thereon  depending,  in  America,  and  Vice-Admirall  of  the 
same,  and  Vice-Admirall  of  the  Red  Squadron  of  his  Majesty's  fleet, 
do  institute  you,  Henry  Barclay,  Clerk,  Rector  of  the  Parish  Church 
of  Trinity  Church,  in  the  city  of  New- York,  to  have  the  care  of  the 
souls  of  the  parishioners  of  the  said  Trinity  Church,  and  take  Your 
Cure  and  Mine.  Given  under  my  hand  and  the  prerogative  seal  of 
the  province  of  New- York,  this  twenty-second  day  of  October,  in  the 
Year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  forty-six. 

G.  Clinton. 

Mandate  from  Governour  Clinton   to  Induct    Mr.   Henry   Barclay 

into  the  Rectory  of  '..  rinity  Church. 
&SL9.R2SL®       The  Honorable  George  Clinton,  Esq.,  Captain-Generall 
a<  seal.  *>  and    Governor-in-Chief  of  the  Province    of   New- York, 
®16*1STST6®  and  the  Territories  thereon  depending,  in  America,  and 


72  HISTORY   OF 

Vice-Admirall  of  the  same,  and  Vice- Admiral  of  the  Red  Squadron 
of  his  Majesty's  Fleet :  To  all  and  singular,  Rectors  or  Parish  Ministers 
whatsoever  in  the  Province  of  New-York,  or  to  Joseph  Robinson  and 
Joseph  Murray,  Esqrs,  the  present  Church  Wardens  of  Trinity 
Church,  in  the  city  of  New-York,  and  to  the  Vestry  Men  of  the  said 
Church,  and  to  each  and  every  of  you, 

Greeting  :  Whereas  I  have  admitted  our  beloved  in  Christ,  Henry 
Barclay,   Clerk,    to  the  Rectory  of  the   Parish  Church  of  Trinity 
Church,  in  the  city  of  New- York,  within  my  Government,  vacant  as 
is  said  by  the  naturall  death  of  William  Vesey,  the  last  Incumbent 
there,  to  which  he  was  presented  unto  me  by  the  Church  Wardens 
and  Vestry  Men  of  Trinity   Church,   in  the  city  of  New-York,  in 
communion  of  the  Church  of  England,  as  by  law  established,  patrons 
of  the  same  :  And  him  I  have  instituted  into  the  Rectory  of  the  same, 
with  all  its  rights  and  appurtenances,  (observing  the  laws  and  Canons 
of  right,    in  that  behalf  required  and  to  be   observed  :)    To  you, 
therefore,  jointly  and  severally,  I  do  committ,  and  firmly  enjoining  do 
command,  each  and  every  of  you,  that  in  due  manner  him  the  same 
Henry  Barclay,  or  his  lawfull  Proctor,  in  his  name,  or  for  him,  into 
the  reall,  actuall,  and  corporall  possession  of  the  said  Rectory  and 
Parish  Church  of  Trinity  Church  aforesaid,  and  of  all  its  rights  and 
appurtenances   whatsoever,  you  induct,  or  cause  to  be  inducted,  and 
him  so  inducted  you  do  defend,  and  what  you  shall  have  done  in  the 
premises  thereof  you  do  duly  certify  unto  me,   or  other  competent 
Judge  in  that  behalf,  when  thereunto  you   shall  be  duly  required. 
Given  under  my  hand  and  the   Prerogative  Seal  of  the  Province  of 
New-York,  the  twenty-second  day  of  October,  in  the  Year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  forty-six. 

G.  Clinton. 

Certificate  of  Mr.    Barclay's   Induction,  t^c,    into   the    Rectory  of 
Trinity  Church,  dfc. 

We,  whose  names  are  hereunto  written,  do  certify  that  Henry 
Barclay,  Rector  of  Trinity  Church  in  the  city  of  New- York,  was,  in 
the  presence  of  us,  Inducted  into  his  Church  aforesaid,  by  Joseph 
Murray  and  Joseph  Robinson,  Esqrs,  the  present  Church  Wardens, 
and  by  the  Vestrymen  of  the  said  Church,  on  the  twenty-second  day 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  73 

of  October,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  forty-six,  by  virtue  of 
certain  Letters  of  Induction  made  under  the  hand  of  his  Excellency 
the  Honorable  George  Clinton,  Esq.,  Captain-Generall  and  Gover- 
nour-in-Chief  of  the  Province  of  New-York,  &c,  and  under  the 
Prerogative  Seal  of  the  said  Province,  within  the  parish  of  the  city 
of  New-York  aforesaid,  for  that  purpose  directed  in  the  w<  rda 
following,  viz :  The  Honorable  George  Clinton,  Esq.,  Captain- 
Gene  rail  and  Governour-in-Chief  of  the  Province  of  New-York,  and 
Teiritories  thereon  depending,  in  America,  and  Vice-Admirall  of  the 
same,  and  Vice-Admirall  of  the  Red  Squadron  of  his  Majesty's 
Fleet :  To  all  and  singular,  Rectors  or  Parish  Ministers  whatsoever 
in  the  Province,  of  New-York,  or  to  Joseph  Robinson  or  Joseph 
Murray,  Esq™,  the  present  Church  Wardens  of  Trinity  Church,  in 
the  city  of  New-York,  and  to  the  Vestrymen  of  the  said  Church,  and 
to  each  and  every  of  you  Greeting:  Whereas  I  have  admitted  our 
Beloved  in  Christ,  Henry  Barclay,  Clerk,  to  the  Rectory  of  the 
Parish  Church  of  Trinity  Church,  in  the  city  of  New-York,  within 
my  Government,  vacant,  as  is  said,  by  the  naturall  death  of  William 
Vesey,  the  last  Incumbent  there,  to  which  he  was  presented  unto  me 
by  the  Church  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  of  Trinity  Church,  in  the 
city  of  New-York,  in  Communion  of  the  Church  of  England,  as  by 
law  established,  patrons  of  the  same,  and  him  I  have  instituted  into 
the  Rectory  of  the  same,  with  all  its  rights  and  appurtenances, 
(observing  the  Laws  and  Canons  of  Right,  in  that  behalf  required 
and  to  be  observed :)  To  you,  therefore,  jointly  and  severally,  I  do 
committ,  and  firmly  enjoining,  do  command  each  and  every  of  you 
that,  in  due  manner,  him,  the  same  Henry  Barclay,  or  his  lawful 
Proctor,  in  his  name,  or  for  him,  into  the  real,  actuall  and  corporall 
possession  of  the  said  Rectory  and  Parish  Church  of  Trinity  Church 
aforesaid,  and  of  all  its  rights  and  appurtenances  whatsoever,  you 
Induct,  or  cause  to  be  Inducted,  and  him  so  Inducted  you  do  defend, 
and  what  you  shall  have  done  in  the  premises  thereof  you  do  duely 
certifie  unto  me,  or  other  competent  Judge,  in  that  behalf  when 
thereunto  you  shall  be  duely  required.  Given  under  my  hand  and 
the  prerogative  Seal  of  the  Province  of  New-York,  the  twenty-second 
day  of  October,  in  the  Year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  forty-six.  G.  Clinton. 

5 


74  HISTORY    OF 

"  Also,  that  the  aforesaid  Henry  Barclay,  on  the 
twenty-third  day  of  this  Instant  November,  within  the 
said  year,  being  a  Lord's  day,  did  read  in  his  Parish 
Church  aforesaid,  openly,  publickly  and  solemnly,  be- 
fore the  congregation  there  assembled,  the  Morning 
and  Evening  Prayers  appointed  to  be  read,  by  and 
according  to  the  Book  Entitled,  (the  Book  of  Com- 
mon Prayer,)  and  administration  of  the  Sacraments 
and  rites  and  ceremonies  of  the  Church,  according  to 
the  use  of  the  Church  of  England,  "  together  with  the 
Psalter  or  Psalms  of  David,  pointed  as  they  are  to  be 
said  or  sung  in  Churches,  and  the  form  or  manner 
of  making,  ordaining,  and  Consecrating  of  Bishops, 
Priests,  and  Deacons,"  at  the  time  thereby  appointed  $ 
and  after  such  reading,  thereof,  did,  openly  and  pub- 
lickly, before  the  congregation  assembled,  declare  his 
unfeigned  assent  and  consent,  to  the  use  of  all  things 
therein  contained,  and  prescribed  according  to  this 
form,  viz :  I,  Henry  Barclay,  do  declare  my  unfeigned 
assent  and  consent,  to  all  and  every  thing  and  things 
contained  and  prescribed  in  and  by  the  Book  Intituled 
the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  and  administration  of 
Sacraments  and  other  rites  and  ceremonies  of  the 
Church,  according  to  the  use  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, together  with  the  Psalter  or  Psalms  of  David, 
pointed  as  they  are  to  be  said  or  sung  in  Churches, 
and  the  form  or  manner  of  making,  ordaining,  and 
Consecrating  of  Bishops,  Priests,  and  Deacons.  Also 
that  he  did,  publickly  and  openly,  in  the  afternoon  of 
the  said  day,  in  his  Parish  Church  aforesaid,  in  the 
presence  of  the  congregation  there  assembled,  in  the 


TRINITY    CHURCH,    NEW-YORK.  75 

time  of  Divine  Service,  read  a  certificate  under  the 
hand  and  seal  of  the  Right  Reverend  father  in  God 
Edmund,  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  in  these  words,  viz  : 
This  declaration  was  made  and  subscribed  before  me, 
by  the  said  Henry  Barclay,  to  be  licensed  to  perform 
the  Ministerial  office  in  the  Colony  of  New-York,  this 
12th  day  of  Dec,  in  the  Year  of  our  Lord  1737,  and* 
in  the  15th  of  our  Translation. 

"  Edmund  London. 

"  And  at  the  same  time,  and  in  the  same  place,  the 
congregation  being  present,  did  read  the  declaration 
or  acknowledgement  contained  in  the  said  certificate, 
viz :  I  do  declare  that  I  will  conform  to  the  Liturgy 
of  the  Church  of  England,  as  it  is  now  by  Law  Estab- 
lished. And  lastly,  that  on  Wednesday,  the  twenty- 
sixth  day  of  the  Instant  November,  and  in  the  Year 
aforesaid,  he  did  read  the  Articles  of  Religion,  com- 
monly called  the  thirty-nine  Articles,  agreed  upon  in 
Convocation,  in  the  Year  1652,  in  his  Parish  Church 
aforesaid,  in  the  time  of  Common  Prayer  there,  and 
did  declare  his  unfeigned  assent  thereto.  And  these 
things  we  promise  to  testify  upon  our  Corporall  oaths, 
if  at  any  time  we  shall  be  called  thereunto.  In  witness 
whereof,  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands,  in  the  city 
of  New-York,  this  twenty-eighth  day  of  November,  in 
the  Year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  forty-six. 

"James  Emott, 
"Lambert  Moore." 

On  the  news  of  his  appointment  to  the  office  of 


78  HISTORY    OF 

Rector  of  Trinity  Church,  the  acceptance  of  which, 
under  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  the  Society  for 
the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  very  highly  approved, 
they  desired  him  to  dispose  of  the  moneys  in  his 
hands  for  the  service  of  the  Mohocks  as  he  should 
think  proper,  he  having  shown  himself  in  all  things  a 
good  and  faithful  steward  to  them.  They  also  made 
it  their  earnest  request  to  Mr.  Barclay,  to  continue 
the  Mohock  Indians  under  his  care,  as  far  as  was 
consistent  with  his  cure  of  Trinity  Church,  and  to 
look  out  for  some  proper  person  to  be  appointed  their 
Missionary,  as  soon  as  with  safety  he  might  reside 
among  them.  To  this  he  replied,  that  he  was  very 
much  afraid  it  could  not  be  done  while  the  war  should 
continue,  and  that  if  he  had  had  the  least  prospect  of 
it,  he  trusted  in  God  that  no  worldly  considerations 
would  have  prevailed  on  him  to  lay  down  his  employ- 
ment among  them  ;  but  that  he  would  nevertheless  do 
all  in  his  power  in  his  new  station,  to  keep  alive  and 
cherish  that  good  seed  which  he  had  so  happily  sown 
among  them. 

It  may  well  be  supposed  that  one  who  had  been 
so  laborious,  so  self-denying,  and  successful  in  the 
difficult  attempt  to  convert  and  reform  the  Indians, 
would  not  be  lacking  in  fidelity  and  diligence  to  those 
who  were  already  of  the  household  of  faith.  At  this 
distance  of  time,  however,  it  is  almost  impossible  to 
follow  him  in  the  even  tenour  of  his  course  in  a  set- 
tled and  well  established  parish,  and  to  ascertain 
either  the  extent  or  the  fruits  of  his  labours.    But 


TRINITY    CHURCH,    NEW-YORK.  77 

still  we  have  some  indications  both  of  their  abundance 
and  success. 

In  a  few  years  after  his  induction  into  the  office  of 
Rector  of  Trinity  Church,  the  congregation  had  so 
far  increased  as  to  stand  in  need  of  further  accom- 
modation, and  to  require  the  erection  of  a  chapel. 
Partly  by  the  arrival  of  strangers  from  Europe,  but 
principally  by  proselytes  from  the  Dutch  churches, 
it  had  become  so  numerous,  that,  though  the  old 
building  would  contain  two  thousand  hearers,  a  new 
one  was  needed.  If  the  statement  of  Smith,  the 
historian  of  New-York,  that  the  proportion  of  Epis- 
copalians to  the  dissenters  in  the  colony  was  scarcely 
as  one  to  fifteen,  this  was  a  most  remarkable  circum- 
stance, and  spoke  well  for  the  zeal  and  diligence  of 
the  ministers  of  Trinity  Church.  For  there  were  at 
that  time  only  eight  places  of  worship  belonging  to 
the  dissenters  in  the  city  of  New-York,  some  of  which 
were  small,  so  that  the  proportion  of  Episcopalians 
had  risen  here  at  least  as  one  to  five. 

The  first  step  which  was  taken  in  this  matter,  was 
at  a  meeting  of  the  Vestry  on  the  12th  of  April, 
1748: 

"  This  Board  being  of  opinion  that  it  has  become 
absolutely  necessary  to  build  a  chapel  of  Ease  to 
Trinity  Church,  and  being  desirous  to  build  the  same 
where  it  will  be  most  commodious  and  convenient  to 
the  congregation  in  generall:  Ordered,  That  the 
Church  Wardens,  Col.  Moore,  Mr.  Watts,  Mr.  Li- 
vingston, Mr.  Chambers,  Mr.  Horsmanden,  Mr.  lleade, 


/O  HISTORY    OF 

and  Mr.  Lodge,  or  any  four  of  them,  (one  of  the 
Church  Wardens  always  to  be  one,)  be  a  committee 
to  consider  where  will  be  the  most  proper  place  for 
building  the  said  chapel,  and  to  hear  the  sentiments 
of  the  congregation,  with  their  several  reasons,  and  to 
make  their  report  to  this  Board  with  all  convenient 
expedition. 

"  Ordered,  That  the  Church  Wardens,  Mr.  Reade 
and  Mr.  Chambers,  be  a  committee  to  purchase  six 
lotts  of  ground  fronting  Nassau-street  and  Fair-street, 
from  David  Clarkson,  Esq.,  upon  such  terms  as  they 
shall  think  reasonable,  in  order  to  build  a  chapel  of 
Ease  to  Trinity  Church  thereon." 

At  a  subsequent  meeting,  held  on  the  11th  of  July, 
in  the  same  year, 

Col1  Robinson,  from  the  committee  appointed  to  purchase  the  lotts  of 
ground  from  Mr.  Clarkson,  to  build  a  chapel  of  Ease  on,  Reported,  that 
the  committee  had  agreed  with  Mr.  Clarkson  for  the  said  lotts  tor  £500, 
to  be  paid  in  a  Year ;  and  several  persons  residing  in  Montgomerie 
Ward  appearing,  and  alledging  that  the  lots  of  Col1  Beekman,  fronting 
Bcekman's  street  and  Van  Cliff's  street,  would  be  more  commodious 
for  building  the  said  chapel  on,  proposed,  that,  if  the  Vestry  would 
agree  to  the  building  the  chapel  there,  the  Inhabitants  of  Montgomerie 
Ward  would  raise  money  among  themselves  sufficient  to  purchase  the 
ground,  and  that  if  Mr.  Clarkson  insisted  on  the  performance  of  the 
agreement  with  him  for  his  lotts,  they  would  take  a  conveyance  for 
them,  and  pay  the  purchase  money ;  which  proposal  being  considered 
by  the  Vestry,  was  agreed  to. 

Mr.  Reade,  Mr.  Livingston,  Mr.  Holland,  Mr.  Grant,  and  Mr. 
Henry  Ludlow,  or  any  three  of  them,  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
procure  plans  for  a  chapel  of  Ease  to  Trinity  Church,  not  exceeding 
ninety  feet  in  length,  and  to  make  their  report  to  the  Board  with  all 


TRINITY    CHURCH,    NEW-YORK,  t\t 

convenient  expedition ;  and  Mr.  Murray,  Mr.  Horsmanden,  Mr. 
Chambers,  Mr.  Lodge,  and  Mr.  Nicholls,  a  committee  to  examine 
into  the  title  of  Col1  Henry  Beekman  to  the  lands  near  Beekman's- 
Swamp,  proposed  to  be  purchased  for  the  building  a  chapel  of  Ease. 
Power  also  was  given  to  the  committee  appointed,  to  inspect  into 
the  title  of  Col1  Beekman  to  the  land  near  the  swamp,  to  agree  with 
Col1  Beekman  for  the  purchase  thereof,  for  such  sum  as  they  should 
think  fitt,  and  to  prepare  deeds  to  be  by  him  executed  for  the  convey- 
ing the  same  to  the  Rector  and  inhabitants  of  Trinity  Church  ;  and 
when  such  purchase  should  be  so  made,  to  agree  also  with  James 
Burling  for  exchanging  part  of  the  said  ground  for  a  lott  of  ground 
which  belonged  to  him  adjoining  thereto,  or  such  part  thereof  as  they 
could  agree  with  him  to  exchange  for  the  same,  on  such  terms  and 
for  such  consideration  as  to  them  should  seem  meet. 

These  arrangements  were  all  completed,  as  appears 
from  an  entry  on  the  minutes  in  the  following  spring : 

Mr.  Murray,  from  the  committee  appointed  to  agree  with  Col1 
Henry  Beekman  for  six  lots  of  land  to  build  a  chapel  of  ease  on, 
Reported,  that  the  said  Col1  Beekman  and  his  wife  had  executed 
Deeds  for  the  said  lots,  and  that  Capt.  Aspinwall,  on  behalf  of  the 
Inhabitants  of  Montgomcrie  Ward,  had  paid  £645  for  the  same. 
Whereupon  it  was  ordered,  that  the  said  deeds  be  delivered  to  Mr, 
Lodge,  to  be  by  him  entered  on  the  records  of  this  city. 

It  would  seem  that  the  Church  lands  were  still 
yery  unproductive,*  and  the  resources  of  the  Vestry 


*  For,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Vestry  on  the  26th  of  April,  1750, 
Adam  Vandenburgh,  the  tenant  of  the  Churches  farm,  appeared  at  this 
Board,  and  agreed  that  the  Church  might  lease  out  any  of  the  farm 
to  the  southward  of  the  stockadoes  for  any  purposes,  notwithstanding 
his  lease  had  not  expired  ;  and  thereupon,  this  Board  agreed  to  lease 
the  said  Adam  Vandenburgh  four  lots  of  twenty-five  feet  in  breadth 


80  HISTORY    OF 

exceedingly  limited.*  For  in  1750,  it  was  ordered 
that  the  committee  appointed  to  manage  the  building 
of  the  chapel  of  Ease,  should  have  power  to  take  up 
any  sum  on  interest,  not  exceeding  one  thousand 
pounds  ;  and  it  was  subsequently 

Ordered,  That  the  seal  of  this  Corporation  should 
be  affixed  to  Bonds  for  any  sums  of  money  that  the 
Church  Wardens  might  want,  for  carrying  on  the 
building  of  the  chapel  of  Ease,  not  exceeding  one 
thousand  pounds  more  than  the  sum  of  one  thousand 
pounds,  already  ordered  to  be  borrowed. 

and  one  hundred  feet  in  length  each,  where  he  then  lived,  for  the 
term  of  twenty-one  years,  at  the  rent  of  forty  shillings  per  annum  for 
each  lot.  And  in  consideration  of  his  having  secured  the  ground  at 
his  own  expense  near  the  Bowling  Green  from  washing  away,  it  was 
ordered,  that  the  said  Adam  Vandenburgh  have  the  house  where  he 
then  lived,  to  make  use  of  as  he  should  think  convenient. 

*  In  the  spring  of  the  following  year,  these  entries  are  found  on 
the  minutes. 

Adam  Vandenburgh,  the  present  Tennant  of  the  churches  farm, 
appeared  at  this  Board,  and  agreed  to  rent  the  said  Farm  for  a  Year 
longer,  from  the  twenty-fifth  of  March  next,  at  the  former  rent  of 
Forty  pounds  ;  that  all  the  Land  to  the  southward  of  the  stockadoes, 
and  the  four  acres  agreed  to  be  leased  to  William  Burnham  at  the 
north  end  of  the  Farm,  are  excepted  out  of  this  lease ;  but  that  the 
said  Adam  Vandenburgh  may  use  any  of  the  Land  to  the  southward 
of  the  stockadoes,  while  it  lies  open  and  unleased  ;  that  he  is  to  cut  no 
timber  or  wood  off  the  Farm,  and  at  the  end  of  the  term  to  leave 
eleven  hundred  and  ninety  pannells  of  sufficient  Fence  on  the  farm. 

Adam  Vandenburgh  appeared  at  this  Board  and  agreed  to  lease 
the  old  Bowling  Green  for  twenty-one  Years,  from  the  25th  of  March 
next,  at  the  rent  of  fifteen  pounds  per  annum,  the  part  of  it  alrcndy 
let  to  Elias  Gruchie  to  be  excepted. 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  81 

The  following  presents,  towards  the  building  of  the 
chapel,  are  noticed  in  the  minutes : 

Col1  Robinson  acquainted  the  Board,  that  Mr.  Oliver  DeLanccy, 
by  order  of  Sir  Peter  Warren,  had  this  day  paid  him  ten  pounds  ster- 
ling, (eighteen  pounds  this  currency,)  being  the  donation  of  His  (J race 
the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  towards  the  building  of  the  chappell 
of  Ease,  for  which  this  Board  are  very  thankful ;  and  it  was  ordered, 
that  the  Rector  and  Church  Wardens  return  his  Grace  their  humble 
thanks  accordingly. 

Mr.  Oliver  DeLancey  acquainted  this  Board,  that  he  had  received 
a  letter  from  Sir  Peter  Warren,  directing  him  to  pay  one  hundred 
pounds  sterling  towards  the  building  of  St.  George's  Chappell,  and 
desiring,  if  it  was  not  inconsistent  with  the  Rules  of  the  Church,  that 
a  Pew  might  be  appropriated  for  Sir  Peter  and  his  family,  in  case  they 
should  come  to  this  country  ;  and  Mr.  DeLancey  also  acquainted  this 
Board,  that  he  was  ready  to  pay  the  said  money  as  this  Board 
should  order. 

And  this  Board  having  a  gratefull  sense  of  Sir  Peter's  generous 
gift,  ordered  that  the  draught  of  a  letter  of  thanks  to  Sir  Peter 
Warren  be  prepared  '  by  Mr.  Horsmanden,  Mr.  Chambers,  and  Mr. 
Nicholls,  and  that  he  be  assured  therein  that  this  Board  will  take 
proper  care  to  accommodate  him  and  his  family  with  a  convenient 
Pew,  whenever  they  shall  come  to  this  country,  and  that  the  said 
draft  be  laid  before  this  Board  at  their  next  meeting.  And  ordered, 
that  Mr.  Oliver  DeLancey  be  desired  to  pay  the  said  hundred  pounds 
sterling  to  Col1  Robinson. 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  let  the  Pews  in  the  chappell  of  Ease, 
who  were  authorized  to  let  them  in  such  manner  and  upon  such  terms 
as  they  should  think  most  proper ;  and  it  was  ordered  that  the  same 
committee  should  have  power  to  assign  a  Pew  for  Sir  Peter  Warren, 
another  for  the  Church  Wardens  and  Vestry,  a  third  for  the  severall 
ministers  and  their  familys,  and  another  for  strangers  ;  and  that  they 
also  should  assign  such  pews  as  they  should  think  convenient  to  be 
Free  pews,  and  have  the  word  free  painted  on  the  door  of  each  of  the 
said  free  pews ;  and  that  the  committee  should  acquaint  all  persons 
that  might  be  desirous  to  hire  a  pew  in  the  chappell  that  had  a  pew 
in  the  Church,  that  they  should  be  at  liberty  upon  hiring  a  pew  in  the 


82 


HISTORY    OF 


chappell,  to  lett  their  pew  in  the  Church,  or  permitt  the  Church  to 
lett  the  same,  and  what  such  pew  should  let  for  should  be  deducted 
out  of  the  Rent  of  the  Pew  they  might  hire  in  the  chappell. 

It  was  also 

Ordered,  That  Wednesday,  the  first  day  of  July,  1752,  should  be 
appointed  for  opening  St.  George's  Chappell  of  this  city,  and  that 
notice  be  given  thereof  in  Trinity  Church  the  two  preceding  Sun- 
days ;  and  ordered,  that  the  Rector,  Col1  Robinson,  and  Mr.  Mayor 
be  a  committee  to  wait  upon  His  Excellency  the  Governour,  and 
inform  him  thereof  some  time  before  notice  be  given  in  the  Church. 

St.  George's  Chapel  was  a  very  neat  edifice,  built 
after  the  plan  of  Robert  Crommelin,  a  member  of 
the  Vestry,  and  an  architect  of  considerable  taste 
and  skill.  It  was  faced  with  hewn  stone,  and  tiled.* 
It  was  ninety-two  feet  in  length,  exclusive  of  the 
chancel,  and  seventy-two  feet  in  breadth.  The 
steeple,  which  was  lofty,  but  irregular,  was  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-five  feet  in  height.f  The  chapel  was 
situated  in  a  new,  crowded,  and  ill-built  part  of  the 
town,  and  in   its  spaciousness,    solidity,  and  beauty, 


*  It  being  some  time  after  represented  to  the  Vestry,  that  the 
Pantiles  on  the  roofe  of  St.  George's  Chappell  were  too  weighty  for 
the  roofe  and  walls  of  the  said  chappell,  it  was  resolved,  that  the 
said  Tiles  be  removed  and  sold,  and  the  roofe  shingled  ;  and  that  Mr. 
Reade,  Mr.  Marston,  Mr.  Cromelin,  Mr.  Mann,  and  Mr.  Desbrosses, 
or  any  three  or  more  of  them,  be  a  committee  to  agree  with  the 
Workmen  and  purchase  materials  for  that  purpose,  and  see  the  same 
done  with  all  convenient  speed,  and  that  the  Church  Wardens  pay  the 
expense  attending  the  same. 

f  It  was  furnished  with  a  fine  large  bell,  which  cost  JE88  3s.  2d. 
sterling. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  83 

was  only  one  of  the  evidences  of  the  liberal  spirit  and 
thoughtful  forecast  of  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church, 
in  anticipating  and  preparing  for  the  future  growth 
and  improvement  of  the  city.  This  venerable  edifice, 
in  which  I  worshipped  for  several  years  in  early  life, 
and  in  which  I  was  confirmed,  and  which  consequently 
was  greatly  endeared  to  me,  was  unhappily  destroyed 
by  fire,  with  the  exception  of  the  walls,  in  the  month 
of  January,  1814,  but  was  rebuilt  and  restored  in  the 
following  year. 

The  increase  of  the  congregation  to  such  a  degree, 
as  to  require  the  building  of  a  chapel  for  its  accom- 
modation, was  not  the  only  proof  of  the  diligence 
and  faithfulness  of  its  worthy  Rector.  There  were 
other  indications  of  both,  at  a  period  somewhat  later, 
of  a  still  more  certain  character.  According  to  the 
Parish  Register  and  other  accounts,  it  appears  that 
the  calls  on  its  ministers  for  some  of  their  pastoral 
duties  were  even  much  more  frequent  than  at  the 
present  day.  From  1763  to  1764,  one  hundred  and 
thirty-seven  couples  were  married,  and  during  the 
same  time  four  hundred  and  thirty-one  adults  and 
children  were  baptized.  There  has  been  nothing 
comparable  to  this,  even  in  the  most  flourishing  state 
of  the  Parish,  during  my  long  connection  with  it. 

In  the  year  1747,  on  the  removal  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 

Charlton  to  the  Church  of  St.  Andrew,  Staten  Island, 
a  committee  was  raised  to  prepare  a  letter  to  the 
Venerable  Society  to  appoint  a  proper  person  to 
succeed  him  ;  which  letter  was  prepared  accordingly, 
and  was  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 


84  HISTORY    OF 

New- York,  Novr  30th,  1749. 
Reverend  Sir  : 

Mr.  Barclay  communicated  to  us  in  Vestry,  a  letter  he  was 
honored  with  by  you  of  the  13th  of  Aprill  last,  advising  him  of  the 
removall  of  the  Revd  Mr.  Charlton  from  our  Church  to  that  of  Staten 
Island,  and  at  the  same  time  hinting  to  him,  to  look  out  for  a  proper 
person  amongst  the  Candidates  for  Holy  Orders,  educated  at  New 
Haven,  to  recommend  to  the  Honorable  Society  to  succeed  in  the 
office  of  Catechist  and  Assistant  to  this  Church.  We  esteemed  this 
a  particular  favour,  and  accordingly  desired  Mr.  Barclay  to  consult 
the  Revei-end  Doctor  Johnson,  and  endeavour  to  find  a  gentleman 
duly  qualified  for  this  purpose.  But  in  the  meantime  Mr.  Barclay 
was  honoured  with  a  second  letter,  ordering  him  to  desist,  the  Society 
designing  a  younge  Gentleman  of  New-England,  lately  ordained,  for 
this  place. 

We  are  extremely  obliged  to  that  Venerable  body,  as  for  their 
former,  so  for  this  fresh  instance  of  their  tender  regard  for  us.  But 
although  we  do  not  in  the  least  doubt  but  the  Honourable  Board  have 
strictly  examined  into  the  character  and  abilities  of  the  Gentleman 
designed  for  us,  yet  we  beg  leave  humbly  to  observe,  that  there  is  one 
materiall  qualification,  (which  it  is  very  possible  they  may  not  have 
considered,)  a  defect  whereof  will  render  all  his  other  good  qualities 
as  a  preacher  useless  to  our  congregation  :  we  mean  the  strength  and 
clearness  of  his  voice,  our  church  being  by  all  accounts  one  of  the 
largest  in  America,  so  that  few  Gentlemen  are  perfectly  heard  in  it. 
We  could  therefore  have  wished  to  have  been  favoured  with  the 
liberty  of  making  our  own  choice,  as  we  should  then  have  been  satis- 
fied in  this  point ;  but  inasmuch  as  the  Venerable  Board  have  already 
determined,  we  hope  for  the  best,  and  beg  leave  to  assure  them,  that 
if  the  Gentleman  they  designed  for  us  is  qualified  to  answer  their 
pious  and  charitable  views,  in  appointing  a  Catechist  in  Holy  Orders, 
that  may  at  the  same  time  serve  as  an  Assistant  to  our  Church,  he 
shall  meet  with  good  encouragement,  and  never  have  reason  to  com- 
plain. But  if  it  should  fall  out  otherwise,  which  we  hope  may  not 
be  the  case,  we  doubt  not  but  the  gentleman  himself  will  solicit  a 
removal,  and  the  Honourable  Board  will  indulge  us  in  the  choice  of 
another.  Reverend  Sir,  please  to  represent  this  with  our  humble 
duty,  and  you  will  oblige,  Reverend  Sir,  your  most  obedient  servants. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  85 

Which  was  signed  by  Hen.  Barclay,  Jos.  Robinson,  Jos.  Murray, 
Dan.  Horsmanden,  Jn°  Chambers,  Richd  Nicholls,  John  Moore, 
Rob*  Watts,  W.  Hamcrsley,  Simeon  Soumaine,  Abraham  Lodge, 
Rob1  Livingston,  Charles  Crooke,  Jn°  McEvers,  Ebenezer  Grant, 
Gab1  Ludlow,  Jos.  Reade,  Nath1  Marston,  Charles  Williams,  Henry 
Rowe,  Rob1  Elliston,  Ed.  Holland. 

Directed  to  the  Reverend  Doctr  Bearcroft,  Secretary  to  the  Venerable 
Society  for  the  propagation  of  the  Gospell  in  foreign  parts,  at  the 
Charter  House,  London. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Vestry  on  the  8th  of  March, 
1748— 

The  Rector  produced  and  read  to  this  Board  a  paragraph  of  a 
Letter  from  the  Revd  Mr.  Bearcroft,  Secretary  to  the  Honourable 
Society,  acquainting  him  that  they  had  been  pleased  to  appoint  the 
Revd  Mr.  Samuel  Auchmuty  Catechist  here,  in  the  roome  of  the 
Rcvd  Mr.  Charlton,  with  directions  to  him  to  assist  the  Rector  in  his 
parochial  duties  as  Mr.  Charlton  had  done.  And  the  said  Mr.  Auch- 
muty produced  to  this  Board  his  letters  of  appointment  from  the  said 
Venerable  Society,  dated  the  23d  of  October  last,  signed  by  the  Revd 
Phillip  Bearcroft,  Secretary  to  the  said  Society  ;  and  thereupon,  this 
Board  desired  the  Rector  to  write  to  the  Revd  Mr.  Bearcroft  in 
answer  to  his  said  letter,  and  to  desire  Mr.  Bearcroft  to  return  the 
Venerable  Society  their  sincere  and  hearty  thanks  for  their  care  of 
them. 

It  appears  that  Mr.  Auchmuty  received  this  appoint- 
ment upon  the  especial  recommendation  of  the  Hon. 
George  Clinton,  Esq.,  Governor  of  the  Province. 

He  was  born  at  Boston,  and  educated  at  Harvard 
College.  The  Lord  Bishop  of  London  had  not  long 
before  admitted  him  into  holy  orders  upon  full  testi- 
monials, and  with  the  Bishop's  approbation  and 
concurrence,  he  was  appointed  both  as  assistant  to 
Mr.  Barclay,  and  as    Catechist   to   the  blacks.     In 


86 


HISTORY    OF 


the  report  of  the  Society  in  the  following  year,  it 
appears  from  his  communication  to  them,  that  he  had 
baptized  twenty-three  negro  infants,  and  three  adults, 
after  proper  instruction.  They  also  stated  that  a 
school  had  been  lately  built  by  the  generous  contribu- 
tions of  the  Governor  and  other  worthy  persons  of 
New-York,  fifty  feet  in  length,  and  twenty-six  in 
breadth  5  in  which  Mr.  Hildreth  taught  both  well  and 
diligently  fifty  poor  children,  who  attended  constantly 
on  the  divine  service  in  the  Church  on  Sundays, 
Wednesdays,  Fridays,  and  Holidays,  and  on  Mr. 
Auchmuty's  catechetical  instructions.  The  certificate 
to  this  effect,  from  the  Rector  and  Churchwardens  of 
the  Parish,  likewise  added  that  Mr.  Auchmuty  had 
promised  to  read  a  catechetical  lecture  in  that  school 
on  every  Wednesday  evening  to  his  negro  catechu- 
mens, detaining,  at  the  same  time,  the  scholars  to  be 
a  part  of  his  audience. 

There  is  nothing  with  which  I  have  been  so  much 
struck  and  impressed,  in  the  investigation  of  the  early 
history  of  this  Parish,  as  the  zeal,  the  earnestness, 
and  devotedness  of  the  schoolmasters  and  catcchists 
of  that  day.  The  former  appear  to  have  been  selected 
from  among  the  laity  with  great  caution  and  care, 
and  to  have  been  persons  of  respectability  and  worth. 
The  latter  were  occasionally  laymen,  but  more  com- 
monly such  as  were  preparing  for  holy  orders,  or  who 
had  actually  received  them.  Some  of  these  were 
men  of  liberal  education,  who  in  the  commencement 
of  their  professional  life  were  full  of  promise,  and  who 
ended  it  with  respect  and  honour.     But  they  all  seem 


TRINITY   CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  87 

to  have  entered  with  the  same  spirit  upon  their  humble 
labours,  and  to  have  prosecuted  them  with  a  patience, 
an  interest,  and  a  blessed  result,  which  put  ours  to 
shame  at  the  present  day.  Intellectual  was  not  then, 
to  the  extent  that  it  is  now,  separated  from  religious 
improvement,  but  both  went  hand  in  hand  throughout 
the  week.  The  whole  of  early  life  was,  in  a  certain 
measure,  devoted  to  Christian  instruction,  and  not 
merely  reserved  for  the  scanty  intervals  between  the 
hours  of  worship  on  the  Lord's  Day. 

It  is  delightful  to  observe,  in  the  annual  reports  of 
the  schoolmasters  and  catechists  to  the  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Gospel,  with  what  cheerfulness 
and  industry  they  appear  to  have  laboured  in  their 
useful,  but  lowly  employment  5  with  what  particular- 
ity each  addition  to  the  number  of  the  scholars  or 
catechumens,  from  year  to  year,  is  pointed  out ;  with 
what  pleasure,  each  change  for  the  better,  in  the 
spiritual  condition  of  the  negro  or  Indian  slaves,  is 
noticed;  with  what  hopefulness  and  interest  they 
look  forward  to  their  advancement  in  Christian  know- 
ledge, and  how  sincerely  they  rejoice  at  their  growth 
in  grace. 

An  instance  of  this  is  found  in  the  report  of  Mr. 
Auchmuty,  in  his  letter  of  October  2,  1750,  which  is 
but  one  among  many.  In  this  he  stated  that,  in  the 
preceding  half  year,  he  had  baptized  thirty-three 
blacks,  of  whom  eight  were  adults,  whom  he  had  pre- 
viously instructed.  He  had  likewise  observed  with 
pleasure,  that  the  masters  of  the  negroes  were  becom- 
ing more  desirous  than  they  used  to  be,  of  having 


88  HISTORY    OF 

them  instructed  in  the  principles  of  Christianity,  inso- 
much that  the  number  of  his  black  catechumens  were 
increasing  daily  $  and  he  therefore  hoped,  through  the 
divine  blessing,  to  be  the  means  of  adding,  at  least, 
some  few  souls  to  Christ.  These  hopes  were  very 
speedily  so  far  realized,  by  the  good  progress  which 
his  catechumens  had  made  in  the  principles  of  Chris- 
tianity, and  by  the  increase  in  their  numbers,  as  that 
he  had  been  constrained  to  apply  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Barclay,  the  Rector  of  the  Church,  for  his  kind 
assistance  in  his  labours. 

In  his  next  letter  to  the  Society,  he  gives  a  still 
more  encouraging  account  of  his  labours,  having  bap- 
tized in  the  previous  year  twelve  negro  adults,  after 
having  first  well  instructed  them  in  the  principles  of 
Christianity,  and  fifty  infants.  He  states  also,  that  he 
had  lately  begun  a  catechetical  lecture,  on  every  Friday 
in  the  afternoon  at  the  new  church,  St.  George's 
Chapel,  for  the  instruction  of  both  whites  and  blacks  5 
that  many  of  both  sorts  had  attended  him  5  that  he 
had  divided  the  blacks  into  two  classes,  one  of  which, 
at  the  date  of  his  letter,  were  learning  Lewis's  Expo- 
sition of  the  Church  Catechism,  and  the  other  the 
Church  Catechism  itself  5  and  that  he  was  in  great 
hopes,  through  the  blessing  of  God,  that  this  would 
have  a  very  good  effect,  and  then,  though  the  labour 
attending  it  must  be  great,  he  should  with  pleasure 
undergo  it  for  the  promoting  of  the  religion  of  our 
blessed  Redeemer. 

All  in  that  day  relating  to  the  religious  instruction 
of  the  young  and  the  ignorant,  was  done  in  faithful- 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  80 

ness  and  simplicity,  according  to  the  teaching  of  the 
Church.  The  Catechism,  as  the  authorized  exposition 
of  her  views  of  Gospel  truth,  was  not  merely  promi- 
nent in  her  system  of  instruction,  but  seems  to  have 
been  the  ground-work  of  the  whole  of  it.  How  far 
the  innovations  on  this  plan  in  modern  times,  aiming 
at  greater  variety  and  attractiveness,  and  ending  very 
often  in  a  mere  generalized  Christianity,  has  the 
advantage  over  that  of  our  fathers,  I  leave  each  one  to 
judge  for  himself;  but  for  my  own  part,  I  regard  the 
change,  at  least,  as  of  .very  doubtful  utility. 

The  school  which*,  with  its  schoolmasters,  I  have 
had  such  frequent  occasion  to  notice  in  connection 
with  the  history  of  the  Parish,  and  which  was  founded 
in  1700,  seems  to  have  been  conjointly  under  the 
fostering  care  of  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  and  of  Trinity  Church. 
In  what  degree,  in  the  earlier  periods  of  its  history 
the  latter  contributed  to  its  support,  it  is  somewhat 
difficult  to  determine  ;  but  at  a  later  period  it  received 
from  this  corporation  that  ample  endowment,  which, 
with  the  contributions  of  benevolent  individuals  and 
the  annual  collections  in  our  churches,  secured  for  it 
stability  and  permanency.  The  unexpected  increase 
in  the  value  of  the  property  with  which  it  was 
endowed,  has  greatly  enlarged  the  usefulness  of  the 
school  at  the  present  day. 

The  schoolmasters   received   from   the   Venerable 

Society  about  £15  sterling  per  annum,  and  £15  or 

£20  New-York   currency  from  this  corporation,  as 

clerks  of  Trinity  Church,  to  which  were  added  occa- 

6 


90  HISTORY  OF 

sional  gratuities  for  extraordinary  diligence  and 
attention  to  their  duties.  Until  1748,  the  rooms  for 
the  use  of  the  teachers  and  pupils  were  probably 
hired.  In  that  year,  however,  it  was  ordered  by  the 
Vestry,  that  so  much  of  the  ground  of  the  Church 
adjoining  to  the  Lutheran  Church,  as  the  Churchwar- 
dens should  think  proper,  should  be  appropriated  for 
building  a  Charity  School.  In  the  meanwhile,  until 
the  building  was  completed,  Mr.  Hildreth  had  leave 
to  keep  his  school  in  the  belfry  of  the  Church.  Col. 
Robinson,  one  of  the  Wardens,  was  ordered  to  furnish 
and  pay  such  moneys  as  should  be  necessary,  over  and 
above  the  subscriptions,  for  carrying  on  and  completing 
the  building  for  the  public  school.  Shortly  after  the 
edifice  was  finished,  the  following  proposal  was  made. 
to  which  the  Vestry  assented  : 

The  gentlemen  who  perform  at  the  subscription  concert,  proposed  to 
this  Board,  that  if  they  would  permittthem  to  make  use  of  the  school- 
room in  the  new  Charity  School,  and  prepare  a  platform  and  closet 
proper,  they  would  pay  ten  shillings  for  each  night,  and  play  at  a 
Benefltt  concert  for  the  use  of  the  poor  children ;  which  proposal 
being  considered,  it  was  unanimously  agreed,  that  if  the  said  Gentle- 
men will  prepare  a  proper  platform,  and  have  a  convenient  closet  put 
up  in  the  said  room,  that  they  shall  have  the  use  of  the  said  room  for 
their  concert  as  they  desire,  they  performing  at  a  benefitt  concert  for 
the  use  of  the  poor  children,  and  paying  so  much  for  the  same  use  as 
they  find  they  can  afford  out  of  their  subscription. 

It  was  likewise  ordered,  that  the  Rector,  Church  Wardens,  Mr. 
Holland,  Mr.  Horsmanden,  Mr.  Chambers  and  Mr.  Crooke,  or  any 
three  of  them,  (one  of  the  Church  Wardens  to  be  one,)  be  a  com- 
mittee to  consider  of  proper  rules  and  regulations  for  the  Charity 
School,  and  also  what  children  ought  to  be  admitted  into  the  said 
school,  and  what  number,  and  who  are  proper  to  be  clothed,  and  that 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  91 

they  have  power  to  cloath  such,  in  such  manner  and  number,  as  they 
shall  think  convenient. 

The  school  was  no  sooner  finished,  than  by  some 
unaccountable  accident  it  was  burnt  to  the  ground. 
The  fire  was  communicated  to  the  spire  of  Trinity 
Church,  which  would  have  probably  occasioned  the 
total  destruction  of  the  building,  but  for  the  extraor- 
dinary exertions  of  some  bold  and  active  persons,  by 
whom  it  was  extinguished.  It  was  therefore  ordered 
by  the  Vestry,  that  Col.  Robinson,  Mr.  Holland,  and 
Mr.  Chambers,  should  be  a  committe  to  inquire  who 
were  in  a  particular  manner  active  and  serviceable  in 
putting  out  the  fire  5  and  they  accordingly  reported — 

That  on  their  enquiry,  they  were  informed  that  Davis  Hunt  was 
the  first  man  in  the  spire  of  the  steeple,  and  he  put  out  the  two 
lowermost  fires,  being  assisted  by  a  fat  man  whose  name  he  does  not 
know,  and  who  soon  went  away.  Andrew  Gotier  and  Francis 
Davison  put  out  the  uppermost  flame  in  the  spire,  and  Gotier  and 
David  Robinson,  a  Tobacconist,  put  out 'the  third  flame  in  the  spire  ; 
Mr.  Davison  put  out  the  flames  on  the  cornish,  with  one  Cornelius 
McCarty,  who  was  also  very  active  there ;  Mr.  Kippin,  the  Black- 
smith,  was  all  the  time  on  the  roof  of  the  Church,  and  Mr.  Gotier 
was  also  there  for  some  time  with  him ;  that  this  information  was  given 
them  by  Gotier,  Davison,  Hunt  and  Mr.  Jardine. 

Whereupon  it  was  ordered,  mat  the  two  Church  Wardens,  Mr. 
Holland,  Mr.  Chambers,  Mr.  Marston,  and  Mr.  Reade,  or  any  four  of 
them,  should  be  a  committee  to  meet  the  severall  persons,  and  to  dis- 
tribute among  them  the  sum  of  Fifty  pounds,  as  they  should  think 
convenient,  and  that  tiiey  should  return  them  the  thanks  of  this  Board 
for  their  good  service. 

The  Churchwardens,  together  with  Mr.  Holland, 
Mr.  Chambers,  Mr.  Nicholls,  and  Mr.  Lodge,  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  inquire,  by  the  best  means 


92  HISTORY    OF 

they  could,  how  the  fire  at  the  school-house  happened, 
and  to  lay  the  examinations  they  should  take  before 
the  next  Vestry  ;  but  the  result  of  which  was  proba- 
bly unsatisfactory,  as  there  is  no  record  of  it  on  their 
minutes. 

It  was  the  opinion,  however,  of  this  Board,  that  the 
Church  School-house  ought  to  be  forthwith  rebuilt, 
and  that  the  Churchwardens  and  Mr.  Nicholls  should 
prepare  a  draft  of  a  subscription  paper  for  a  contribu- 
tion for  the  rebuilding  thereof,  and  lay  the  same  before 
the  next  Vestry  ;  who  reported,  through  Mr.  Horsman- 
den,  that  they  had  agreed  with  John  Brown  and  James 
Napier  for  the  rebuilding  thereof,  for  the  sum  of  £375 
certain,  and  £25  more  when  the  whole  should  be  com- 
pleted, if  it  should  appear  they  should  deserve  the  same. 

The  committee  appointed  to  take  care  of  the  building  of  the 
Chanty  School  House,  Reported,  that  the  contractors  had  compleated 
the  School  Building  pursuant  to  their  contract,  and  that  they  were  of 
opinion  that  the  said  contractors  had  a  hard  bargain. 

It  was  therefore  ordered,  that  the  said  Church  Wardens  pay  to  the 
said  contractors  the  sum  of  Twenty-five  pounds,  over  and  above  the 
sum  of  £375  agreed  to  be  paid  them. 

It  was  also  ordered,  that  the  Society's  Schoolmaster,  for  the  time 
being,  be  at  liberty  to  keep  his  School  in  the  School  room  of  the  new 
Charity  School  House  till  further  orders. 

The  very  misfortunes  attending  the  outset  of  this 
charitable  undertaking,  which  was  viewed  with  favour 
in  itself,  served  only  to  render  it  still  more  popular. 
Contributions  poured  in  from  all  sides,  and  all  its 
wants  were  abundantly  supplied. 

The  following,  which  are  somewhat  curious,  are 
the  first  noticed  in  the  book  of  minutes : 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  93 

Mr.  Richard  Nicholls  (who  for  thirty  .three  years  was  a  member  of 
the  Vestry)  having  drawn  several!  conveyances,  articles  of  agreement, 
bonds  and  other  writings  for  the  church,  amounting  to  the  sum  of 
Fourteen  pounds,  nineteen  shillings,  as  by  his  account  of  the  parti- 
culars with  his  receipt  appears,  Col1  Robinson  acquainted  the  Vestry 
that  the  said  Mr.  Nicholls  had  been  pleased  generously  to  make  a 
present  of  his  said  service  to  the  Church,  to  be  laid  out  in  cloaths  for 
such  poor  children  belonging  to  their  Charity  School  as  they  shall 
judge  to  be  most  proper  objects  of  charity.  Whereupon  it  was 
ordered,  that  the  thanks  of  the  Vestry  be  given  to  the  said  Mr. 
Nicholls  for  the  same,  and  that  Col1  Robinson  and  himself  be  desired 
to  lay  out  and  apply  that  sum,  for  the  clothing  of  such  poor  children 
belonging  to  the  Charity  School  as  they  shall  think  proper. 

Mr.  Abraham  Lodge  (who  for  twelve  years  was  also  a  member  of 
the  Vestry)  having  done  some  business  .for  this  Board,  for  which  he 
was  entitled  to  upwards  of  Eight  pounds,  had  been  pleased  generously 
to  make  a  present  of  this  sum  to  the  Church,  to  be  laid  out  in  cloaths 
for  such  poor  children  belonging  to  their  Charity  School  as  they 
should  judge  to  be  most  proper  objects  of  charity;  which  Col1 
Robinson  acquainted  the  Board  was  laid  out  accordingly.  Where- 
upon it  was  ordered,  that  the  thanks  of  the  Vestry  be  given  to  the  said 
Mr.  Lodge  for  the  same. 

The  Society  of  Free  Masons  gave  £15  towards 
clothing  the  children. 

Mrs.  Fred  bequeathed  to  the  school  £500. 

Capt.  Thomas  Randall  made  a  present  of  a  bell 
for  the  use  of  the  Charity  School. 

Mr.  Alexander  Troup  left  a  legacy  to  the  school, 
the  amount  of  which,  though  not  stated,  is  presumed 
to  have  been  large,  inasmuch  as  it  was  retained  as  a 
loan  by  the  Vestry,  at  an  interest  of  five  per  cent  per 
annum. 

Mr.  Bache,  one  of  the  Executors  of  the  last  will  and  Testament  of 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Sharpas,  (whose  husband  had  been  a  member  of  the 


94  HISTORY    OF 

Vestry,)  paid  to  Mr.  Reade  the  sum  of  two  hundred  pounds  for  the 
use  of  the  Charity  School,  to  he  disposed  of  and  applyed  as  is  directed 
by  the  said  will. 

Mr.  Reade  acquainted  the  Vestry,  that  Mr.  Debrosses,  executor  of 
the  last  will  and  Testament  of  Mrs.  Frances  Auboyneau,  (whose 
husband  likewise  had  been  a  member  of  the  Vestry  for  twenty  years,) 
had  paid  him  the  sum  of  Two  hundred  pounds,  in  part  of  a  legacy 
given  to  this  corporation  for  the  use  of  the  Charity  School ;  and 
shortly  after  another  sum  of  two  hundred  pounds,  in  further  part  of 
the  same  legacy. 

The  next  bequest  to  the  school  was  paid  over,  it 
appears,  by  the  following  entry  in  the  minutes,  under 
very  interesting  circumstances : 

Whereas  the  Honorable  John  Chambers,  deceased,  (who  was  for 
thirty-eight  years  a  Warden  and  Vestryman  of  this  Church,)  by  his 
last  will  and  Testament  did  give  and  bequeath,  (after  the  death  of  his 
wife,  but  not  before,)  unto  the  Rector  and  Inhabitants  of  the  city  of 
New- York  in  communion  with  the  Church  of  England,  as  by  law 
established,  the  sum  of  one  thousand  pounds  current  money  of  New- 
York  ;  in  trust  nevertheless,  that  they  should  in  a  husband-like  manner 
apply  and  lay  out  the  same  towards  Ihe  support  and  carrying  on  the 
Charity  School  in  the  city  of  New-York,  under  their  care  and  inspec- 
tion, according  to  their  best  discretion ;  And  Avhereas  Mi's.  Anne 
Chambers,  widow  of  the  said  John  Chambers,  being  piously  and 
charitably  disposed,  has  been  pleased  to  intimate  that  she  is  ready  and 
desirous  to  pay  the  said  legacy  of  one  thousand  pounds  immediately 
to  this  corporation,  to  be  disposed  of  and  applyed  according  to  the 
directions  and  intention  "of  the  said  Testator;  thereupon  it  is 
ordered,  that  Mr.  David  Clarkson  be  desired,  and  he  is  hereby 
empowered,  to  receive  the  said  legacy,  and  when  received,  that  he 
put  out  the  same  at  Interest  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  Charity 
School,  according  to  the  directions  of  the  said  will ;  giving  this  corpo- 
ration the  preference  for  so  much  of  the  said  sum  as  they  may  have 
occasion  for,  paying  interest  for  the  same.     And  it  is  further  ordered, 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  95 

that  upon  receipt  of  the  said  sum,  a  proper  release  and  discharge 
for  the  said  legacy  be  nude  and  executed,  under  the  seal  of  this 
corporation,  to  the  Executors  of  the  said  Will.  And  it  is  ordered, 
that  the  Rector  and  two  Church  Wardens  be  a  committee  to  wait  on 
the  said  Mrs.  Chambers,  to  return  her  the  thanks  of  this  Board  for 
her  generous  intentions,  and  to  request  that  she  will  be  pleased  to 
consent  that  somo  public  monument  be  erected,  at  the  expense  of  this 
corporation,  to  express  their  gratitude  to  the  memory  of  the  said  Mr. 
Chambers  for  his  generous  donation. 

A  further  proof  of  the  kindness  and  good  will  of 
this  excellent  woman,  towards  the  Charity  School, 
appears  on  the  minutes. 

Whereas  Mrs.  Anne  Chambers,  late  of  the  city  of  New- York, 
deceased,  in  and  by  her  last  will  and  Testament,  did  give  and  bequeath 
unto  the  Rector  and  Inhabitants  of  the  city  of  New- York,  in  commu- 
nion of  the  Church  of  England  as  by  law  established,  and  to  their 
successors  for  ever,  the  sum  of  Five  hundred  pounds  current  money 
of  the  Province  of  New- York ;  in  trust  nevertheless,  for  the  uses' 
following,  and  upon  this  special  confidence,  (to  wit  :)  that  the  same 
be  kept  and  put  out  at  interest  by  them,  and  the  yearly  interest  or 
income  thereof  be  applyed  towards  the  support  of  the  Girls  only 
belonging  to  and  to  belong  to  the  Charity  School  in  the  city  of  New- 
York,  that  is  under  their  care  and  inspection,  and  in  rewarding  such 
of  the  said  girls  upon  leaving  the  said  school  as  they  shall  judge 
deserving  thereof,  and  in  such  proportions  as  they  shall  think  proper, 
in  cash  or  otherwise,  which  is  intended  as  an  encouragement  for  their 
diligence,  and  decent  and  orderly  behaviour  during  their  contin- 
uance in  the  said  School ;  And  this  corporation  being  indebted  to 
the  estate  of  the  said  Mrs.  Chambers,  by  bond,  in  the  sum  of  five 
hundred  pounds,  it  is  ordered,  that  Mr*  Desbrosses  be,  and  is  hereby 
authorized  to  settle  the  said  legacy  and  debt  with  the  executors  of  the 
said  Mrs.  Chambers,  and  that  a  release  of  the  said  legacy  be  made 
and  executed,  under  the  seal  of  this  corporation,  to  the  said  executors 
upon  settlement  of  the  same. 


96 


HISTORY    OF 


There  was  another  devise  not  long  after  of  £5007 
for  the  clothing  and  educating  the  poor  children  of 
the  school,  from  Mr.  Elias  Desbrosses,  who  for  twen- 
ty-two years  had  been  a  Warden  and  Vestryman  of 
Trinity  Church. 

This  was  followed  by  a  legacy  of  £200,  received 
from  Francis  Lewis  and  Walter  Rutherford,  Esqrs., 
executors  of  the  estate  of  Mrs.  Margaret  Todd. 

And  another,  as  is  supposed,  of  a  considerable 
amount,  from  Mr.  Nath.  Marston,  who  was  for  forty- 
four  years  a  Warden  and  Vestryman  of  Trinity 
Church. 

In  1793,  the  committee  of  ways  and  means  for 
building  a  school-house,  and  erecting  a  steeple  on  the 
northwest  end  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  made  the  follow- 
ing report : 

The  committee  appointed  by  the  Corporation  of  Trinity  Church  for 
the  purpose,***having  attentively  examined  the  several  sources  of 
revenue  within  the  reach  and  subject  to  the  controul  of  this  Board, 
do  report — 

That  the  most  ample  provision  for  accomplishing  the  object  can 
readily  be  obtained,  by  a  sale  of  such  part  of  the  lands  of  this 
corporation  as  are  let  out  on  long  leases,  and  produce  a  small  annual- 
income  ; 

That  the  price  of  fourteen  lots  rented  to  Samuel  Ellis,  and  recom- 
mended by  the  committee  of  leases  as  an  advantageous  sale  at 
£2500,  can  with  propriety  be  applied  to  effect  this  end ;  For  in  addi- 
tion to  an  useful  building,  which  will  be  annexed  to  the  estate  of  the 
Church,  its  revenue  also  in  this  instance  will  be  more  than  doubled  ; 
That  the  produce  of  other  lots  to  the  amount  required,  which  may 
easily  be  selected  under  circumstances  similar  to  the  preceding,  ought 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  97 

to  be  appropriated  to  the  completion  of  the  purposes  above  required. 

All  which  is  nevertheless  submitted  by 

Hub't  Van  Wagenen, 
Moses  Rogers, 
Wm.  Laight. 
New-York,  13^  May,  1793. 

The  report  having  been  accepted,  Messrs.  Farquhar  and  Barrow, 
the  committee  of  repairs,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  superintend 
the  building  of  the  School-House. 

Several  legacies  and  gifts,  in  trust  to  Trinity  Church 
for  the  use  of  the  Charity  School,  came  in  about  this 
time,  to  help  forward  the  accomplishment  of  the 
work  $  one  from  Mr.  William  Brownjohn,  of  the  city 
of  New-York,  druggist,  the  amount  of  which  is  not 
mentioned ;  another  of  £184  12s.  lOd.  from  John 
Stratford  Jones,  of  the  Island  of  St.  Croix,  and  a 
third  of  £100  from  the  corporation  of  the  city. 

In  1795,  the  Secretary  reported  a  plan  for  a  con- 
veyance, in  trust,  of  property  from  Trinity  Church 
for  the  Charity  School.  Whereupon  Dr.  Charlton, 
Dr.  Johnson,  and  Mr.  Harison,  were  empowered  to 
take  such  legal  opinions  as  they  might  see  fit,  upon 
the  clause  of  the  charter  respecting  the  value  of  the 
property  to  be  held  by  the  corporation,  and  the  acts 
of  the  Legislature  relating  to  the  subject. 

In  1800,  the  following  lots  were  appropriated  to  the 
Charity  School,  in  order  to  extinguish  the  debt  due 
to  it  from  Trinity  Church,  which  the  latter  had 
incurred  by  receiving  in  trust  the  gifts  and  bequests 
which,  from  time  to  time,  had  been  made  to  the  former, 
and  on  which  considerable  sums  of  interest  had 
accrued : 


98 


HISTORY    OF 


NO.  OF  LOTS. 

235  . 

236  . 
226  . 
248  . 
353  . 

367  . 

368  . 
449  . 
8  lots  Pe 
ters'  lease 
118 
134 
136 
250 
411 
412 
451 
344 
421 
562 

45 

Total  27  lots. 


PRESENT  HATE         ADVANCED  HATE. 


Murray .  . 
« 

Robinson* 

Church .  . 
Warren    . 


£     s. 


10 
12 

7 
5 

4 


....  20 400^ 

....  20 400 

....  35 900 

....  25 550 

....  20 400 

....  20 400 

....  20  400 

....  20 400 


Greenwich  24 


Barclay    . 

Vesey    .  . 
t< 

Robinson . 
Murray  .  . 

Chamber . 
Murray .  . 
Broadway 
Reade  .  . 
Rector  .  . 


12 
16 
16 
10 

20 


14 
5 

4 


10 
10 


96 

25 
25 
25 

20 
20 
20 
20 
25 
30 
18 
14 


2000 


"a® 


©  P. 


500 
500 
500 
400 
400 
400 
400 
500 
550 
300 
250 


£208  00 


£518  £10,550 


Upon  this  report  being  made,  the  committee  of 
leases  were  ordered  to  proceed  to  the  sale  of  the  lots 
therein  described.  This  plan,  however,  it  afterwards 
appears  was  abandoned,  and  gave  place  to  another. 

The  clerk  of  the  corporation  was  authorized,  at  the 
same  time,  to  apply  to  the  Legislature  for  an  incorpo- 
ration of  the  Episcopal  Charity  School,  and  to  pre- 
pare a  plan  of  the  same,  which,  after  having  been 
submitted  to  Robert  Troup,  Esq.,  and  approved, 
together  with  the  draft  of  a  deed  to  carry  it  into' 
effect  ;  it  was  resolved,  that  the  number  of  trustees 
should  be  thirteen,  and  that  the  following  should  be 
the  first  trustees  of  the  said  school,  Dr.  B.  Moore, 


*  Now  Park  Place. 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  99 

Dr.  A.  Beach,  Dr.  Charlton,  James  Farquhar,  Matt. 
Clarkson,  Edward  Goold,  Henry  Rogers,  Herman 
LeRoy,  G.  Ludlow,  Jacob  LeRoy,  Charles  Wilkes, 
Henry  White,  and  Richard  Harison. 

The  committee  of  leases  subsequently  presented 
the  following  plan  for  exonerating  the  Corporation  of 
Trinity  Church  from  the  debt  which  was  due  to  the 
Charity  School,  and  establishing  a  fund  for  its  annual 
expenditure. 

The  debt  owing  to  the  school  by  this  corporation 
was  £6500,  and  the  average  annual  expenses  thereof 
£700. 

It  was  therefore  proposed  to  assign  mortgages  to  it 
to  the  amount  of  £8610  15s.  and  to  grant  it  about 
eight  lots  of  land,  bounded  by  Lumber,  Greenwich 
and  Rector  streets,  on  a  part  of  which  the  school- 
house  stood,  and  the  residue  whereof  yielded  at  the 
time  an  annual  rent  of  £67  8s. 

In  the  following  year  a  donation  was  made  to  the 
school  of  a  thousand  dollars,  and  such  a  further  grant 
of  lots  was  recommended  as  on  a  reasonable  calcula- 
tion would  produce  an  annual  rent  of  $500. 

The  committee  of  leases  having  again  taken  the 
matter  into  consideration,  recommended  that  bonds 
and  mortgages  should  be  given,  in  lieu  of  the  lots 
heretofore  proposed,  which  recommendation  was 
agreed  to  by  the  Board,  and  bonds  to  the  amount  of 
£3000  were  accordingly  assigned  to  the  said  institution. 
In  addition  to  the  liberal  endowment  of  the  school  by 
Trinity  Church,  a  donation  was  also  made  to  it  by 
the  State. 

The  extension  of  gratuitous  education  among  the 


100  HISTORY    OF 

poor  by  the  New-York  Free  School  Society,  was 
found  to  interfere  so  materially  with  the  original  plan 
of  the  Charity  School,  which  was  designed  to  bring 
them  up  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord, 
agreeably  to  the  doctrines  of  the  Church,  as  well  as 
to  fit  them  for  the  business  of  life  $  that  in  the  year 
1826  it  was  thought  expedient  by  the  trustees  to  reor- 
ganize it,  and  to  convert  it  into  a  school  for  instruction 
in  all  the  principal  branches  of  English  education, 
and  also  in  classical  learning,  under  the  name  of  the 
New-York  Protestant  Episcopal  Public  School.  The 
grand  leading  feature  of  the  former  system,  however, 
was  carefully  preserved,  for  religious  instruction  was 
to  be  given  in  every  department  of  the  school,  under 
the  supervision  of  the  Bishop. 

Shortly  after  this  new  arrangement,  a  donation  was 
made  to  it  by  John  G.  Leake,  of  one  thousand  dollars. 

And  in  1832,  Trinity  Church  granted  a  lease,  at  a 
mere  nominal  rent,  to  the  trustees,  of  five  lots  of 
ground  on  Canal,  Varick,  and  Grand  streets,  on  one 
part  of  which  the  school-house  now  stands,  and  the 
other  part  of  which  is  let  out  on  such  advantageous 
terms  as  to  increase  very  materially  the  income  of 
the  Board. 

The  School  subsequently  underwent  some  further 
modifications,  and  in  1845  received  the  name  of  Trin- 
ity School  j  and  it  is  now,  perhaps,  in  a  more  flourish- 
ing condition  than  it  has  ever  been  since  its  very 
foundation. 

In  the  original  endowment  of  Trinity  Church  by 
the  Colonial  Government,  it  appears  to  have  been  the 
intention  to  connect  the  promotion  of  learning  with  the 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  101 

interests  of  religion.     For  there  is  this  record  on  the 
early  minutes  of  the  Vestry : 

It  being  moved,  which  way  the  King's  Farme  which  is  now  vested 
in  Trinity  Church  should  be  let  to  farm,  it  was  unanimously  agreed, 
That  the  Rector  and  Church  Wardens  should  waite  upon  my  Lord 
Cornbury  the  Govr,  to  know  what  part  thereof  his  Lordship  did 
design  towards  the  Colledgc  which  his  LordP  designs  to  have  built, 
and  thereupon,  to  publish  placarts  for  the  letting  thereof  at  the  public 
outcry,  to  the  highest  bidder. 

No  effectual  measures,  however,  were  taken  for 
this  purpose,  until  nearly  half  a  century  had  passed 
away. 

In  1752,  it  was  unanimously  agreed  by  this  Board,  that  a  proposall 
be  made  to  the  Commissioners  appointed  to  receive  proposalls  for 
the  Building  a  College,  and  that  this  Board  is  willing  to  give  any 
reasonable  quantity  of  the  Churches  farm,  which  is  not  let  out,  for 
the  erecting  and  use  of  a  College. 

It  is  ordered,  That  the  Rector  and  Church  Wardens  be  a  com- 
mittee to  wait  on  the  said  Commissioners,  and  make  the  aforesaid 
proposalls  to  them,  and  confer  with  them  thereupon. 

Two  years  after,  the  arrangement  between  them 
appears  to  have  been  finally  made. 

It  is  unanimously  agreed  by  this  Board,  that  this  Board  will  give 
for  the  use  of  the  Colledge  intended  to  be  erected,  a  certain  parcell 
of  land  belonging  to  this  Corporation,  to  erect  and  build  the  said 
Colledge  upon,  and  for  the  use  of  the  same  ;  that  is  to  say,  a  street 
of  ninety  feet  from  the  Broadway  to  Church  street,  and  from  Church 
street  all  the  lands  between  Barclay's  street  and  Murray's  street  to 
the  water  side ;  upon  this  condition,  that  the  President  of  the  said 
Colledge  for  ever,  for  the  time  being,  be  a  Member  of  and  in  Com- 
munion with  the  Church  of  England,  and  that  the  Morning  and  Eve- 
ning Service  in  said  Colledge  be  the  Liturgy  of  the  said  Church,  or 
such  a   collection  of  prayers  out  of  the   said  Liturgy,  as   shall  be 


102  HISTORY    OF 

agreed  upon  by  the  President  or  Trustees  or  Governours  of  the  said 
Colledge. 

The  following  draft  of  a  letter  on  this  subject,  from 
the  Vestry  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bearcroft,  Secretary  to 
the  Venerable  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gos- 
pel, was  read  and  approved  of,  and  being  engrossed, 
was  signed  by  the  members  present,  and  is  in  the 
words  following,  viz : 

Rev'd  Sir  : 

We  esteem  it  a  great  Honour,  amidst  the  many  virulent  reproaches 
we  have  met  with,  to  find  our  conduct  with  regard  to  the  Colledge 
lately  founded  here,  approved  by  so  venerable  and  respectable  Body 
as  the  Society  for  the  propagation  of  the  Gospell,  and  to  have  received 
their  thanks  for  the  Donation  we  made  ;  which  was  communicated  to 
us  by  Mr.  Barclay,  and  which  we  most  gratefully  acknowledge.  We 
had  also  the  satisfaction  of  the  universall  approbation  of  our  consti- 
tuents, notwithstanding  the  vast  debt  we  have  contracted  by  building 
the  chappell  of  Ease. 

We  _  always  expected  that  a  gift  so  valuable  in  itself,  and  so  abso- 
lutely necessary,  (it  being  the  only  ground  within  the  city  properly 
situated,  and  of  sufficient  extent,)  would  be  a  means  of  obtaining 
some  priviledges  to  the  Church,  especially  as  the  first  promoters  of 
the  affair,  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  always  proposed  such  a 
preference,  at  least,  as  is  granted  by  the  charter  ;  but  we  never 
insisted  on  any  condition,  till  we  found  some  persons  labouring  to 
exclude  all  systems  of  religion  out  of  the  Constitution  of  the  College. 
When  we  discovered  this  deeign,  we  thought  ourselves  indispensably 
obliged  to  interpose,  and  have  had  the  countenance  of  many  good 
men  of  all  denominations,  and  in  particular  the  ministers  of  the 
Foreign  Protestant  churches  in  this  city,  who  are  appointed  Gover- 
nors of  the  Colledge,  and  who  without  the  least  hesitation  qualified 
agreeable  to  the  Church,  and  continue  hearty  friends  to  it. 

But  notwithstanding  this,  the  opposition  still  continues,  and  has  so 
far  prevailed  as  to  have  hitherto  prevented  the  application  of  the 
money  raised  by  Lottery  to  the  use  of  the  Colledge.     To  effect  this, 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  103 

our  opponents  have  been  indefatigable,  the  most  base  and  disinge- 
nuous methods  have  been  used  to  prejudice  the  Common  People  in  the 
several  counties,  whom  they  have  endeavoured  to  persuade,  that  tin- 
Test  impos'd  on  the  president  will  infallibly  be  attended  with  the 
establishment  of  Bishops  and  Tythes,  and  will  end  in  the  loss  of  all 
their  Religions  priviledges,  and  even  in  persecution  itself.  Petitions 
have  been  drawn  and  handed  about  to  be  signed  against  the  Charter 
Establishment ;  and  weekly  papers  have  been  published  for  two 
years  past,  wherein  all  the  friends  of  the  Church,  and  the  Vestry  of 
Trinity  Church  in  particular,  have  been  abused  in  the  most  oppro- 
bious  terms  :  so  that  it  is  very  uncertain  when  the  moneys  will,  by 
the  Generall  Assembly,  be  vested  in  the  Governors.  In  the  mean 
time,  they  have  begun  a  subscription  amongst  themselves,  and  are 
daily  purchasing  materialls  to  lay  the  foundation  of  a  handsome,  con- 
venient Edifice,  which,  God  willing,  they  purpose  to  begin  next 
Spring  ;  and  they  are  induced  to  hope,  that  as  the  dissenting  seminary 
in  New  Jersey  has  had  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Kirk  of  Scot- 
land engaged  in  jts  behalf  last  year,  as  well  as  the  dissenting  interest 
in  England,  and  as  we  are  informed,  have  collected  a  very  consid- 
erable sum  of  money,  so  our  Brethren  in  England  will  be  ready  to 
contribute,  to  preserve  the  Church  in  this  part  of  the  world  from  the 
contempt  its  enemies  are  endeavouring  to  bring  upon  it.  The  Dis- 
senters have  already  three  Seminarys  in  the  Northern  Governments. 
They  hold  their  Synods,  presbyteries,  and  associations,  and  exercise 
the  whole  of  their  Ecclesiastical  Government  to  the  no  small  advan- 
tage of  their  cause,  whilst  those  churches  which  are  branches  of  the 
National  Establishment  are  deprived,  not  only  of  the  benefitt  of  a 
regular  Church  Government,  but  their  children  debarred  the  priviledge 
of  a  liberal  education,  unless  they  will  submitt  to  accept  of  it  on  such 
conditions  as  Dissenters  require,  which,  in  Yale  Colledge  is  to  sub- 
mitt to  a  fine  as  often  as  they  attend  Public  Worship  in  the  Church 
of  England,  communicants  only  excepted,  and  that  only  on  Christmas? 
and  Sacrament  days.  This  we  cannot  but  look  upon  as  hard 
measure,  especially  as  we  can,  with  good  conscience,  declare  that  we 
are  so  far  from  that  bigotry  and  narrowness  of  spirit  they  have  of  late 
been  pleased  to  charge  us  with,  that  we  would  not,  were  it  in  our 
power,  lay  the  least  restraint  on  any  man's  conscience,  and  should 


104 


HISTORY    OF 


heartily  rejoice  to  continue  in  brotherly  love  and  charity  with  all  our 
Protestant  Brethren,  as  we  can  appeal  to  all  men  we  have  always 
done,  notwithstanding  the  late  unmerited  reproaches,  callumnies,  and 
opposition  we  have  met  with. 

Upon  the  whole,  as  we  are  informed  the  Governors  of  the  Colledge 
intend  to  proceed  according  to  the  charter,  and  have  reason  to  think 
that  this  will  be  the  best  means  to  quell  the  present  opposition,  restore 
peace,  promote  true  religion  and  harmony  amongst  all  denominations 
of  Xtians,  and  at  length  induce  the  Assembly  to  grant  the  moneys 
raised  for  the  Colledge  ;  We  humbly  beg  leave  to  recommend  the 
cause  in  which  they  are  engaged  to  the  patronage  of  the  Venerable 
Board,  and  its  severall  members,  and  hope  that  when  a  subscription 
shall  be  set  on  foot  in  England,  they  will,  upon  proper  application, 
encourage  and  assist  them  in  their  laudable  undertaking.  This  will 
add  a  new  obligation  on  all  the  members  of  the  Church  of  England, 
as  this  in  all  probability  will  be  the  only  Colledge  in  which  they  are 
like  to  have  an  Interest. 

We  committ  this  letter  to  the  care  of  Mr.  George  Harison,  one  of 
our  Vestry,  and  Mr.  William  Johnson,  son  of  the  Revd  Doctor  John- 
son, by  whom  we  beg  leave  to  tender  our  best  respects  to  the  Vener- 
able Board,  and  by  whom  they  may  be  informed  more  particularly  in 
any  matter  relating  to  this  subject. 

We  remain  with  much  respect,  Reverend  Sir, 

Your  most  humble  servants. 

In  1754,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Johnson  acquainted  the 
Society,  that  the  charter  for  the  foundation  of  the 
college  then  called  King's,  but  now  Columbia  College, 
for  the  education  of  youth  in  the  liberal  arts  and 
sciences,  had  been  passed,  by  which  the  head  of  the 
college  is  to  be  always  a  member  of  the  Church  of 
England,  and  the  prayers  of  the  Church  are  to  be 
always  used  in  it.  He  likewise  informs  them,  that 
he  hath  accepted  that  post,  and  therefore  begs 
leave  to  resign  the  mission  of  Stratford,  which  he  had 
held  thirty-two  years,  in  which,  as  he  modestly  ex- 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  105 

presses  himself,  he  hopes  he  may  say  he  had  faithfully 
endeavoured,  through  many  struggles  and  hardships, 
to  answer  the  pious  design  of  the  Society,  in  placing 
him  there.  It  will  not  be  thought  to  have  been  inap- 
propriate to  notice  this  appointment,  inasmuch  as  Dr. 
Johnson  was  subsequently  elected  as  an  Assistant 
Minister  of  Trinitv  Church,  and  the  College  itself 
was  amply  endowed  by  it. 

In  the  following  year  he  remarks  in  another  letter, 
that  he  is  concerned  to  write  that  a  great  clamour 
was  raised  by  its  inveterate  enemies,  against  the  mea- 
sures proposed  for  carrying  this  laudable  design  into 
speedy  effect,  and  that  it  had  so  far  prevailed  as  to 
cause  the  matter  to  be  postponed  in  the  Assembly,  by 
a  majority  of  a  single  vote. 

The  next  year,  however,  the  Society  states  in  the 
abstract  of  their  proceedings,  that  it  hath  the  satisfac- 
tion to  be  informed  by  Mr.  Harison,  a  worthy  member 
of  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  that  at  length  the 
Assembly  had  passed  a  vote  to  appropriate  the  money 
raised  for  the  building  of  the  College  in  the  city  of 
New-York,  to  its  proper  purpose,  and  therefore  it  is 
to  be  hoped  that  this  very  useful  design  will  meet 
with  no  further  obstructions,  but  be  carried  into  exe- 
cution with  all  proper  speed. 

It  may  here  perhaps  not  be  amiss  to  remark,  that 
the  ground  which  was  originally  given  to  the  College 
by  Trinity  Church  merely  for  its  own  proper  use,  has 
long  since  so  far  increased  in  value,  from  the  growth 
of  the  city,  as  to  furnish  a  large  part  of  its  annual 

income. 

7 


106  HISTORY   OF 

"On  the  20th  of  December,  1753,  it  was  unanimously 
resolved,  that  \he  Rev.  Dr,  Samuel  Johnson,  of  Strat- 
ford, be  called  aa  an  Assistant  Minister  of  Trinity 
Church,  and  that  he  'oe  allowed  for  the  same  the  sum 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  per  annum  \  and  the 
Rector  and  Churchwardens  were  desired  to  write  to 
the  said  Dr.  Johnson,  and  acquaint  him  with  the 
resolution  of  this  Board,  and  that  his,  said  salary  should 
commence  from  the  day  of  his  leaving  his  Parish  at 
Stratford. 

"  Col.  Robinson  acquainted  this  Board  that  tht  Rev, 
Mr.  Barclay,  Mr.  Murray,  and  himself,  pursuant  to 
the  order  of  this  Board  of  the  20th  of  December  last? 
had  wrote  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Johnson,  and  that  they 
had  received  an  answer  from  him,  which  was  in  the 
words  following,  viz : 

"  Stratfoed,  January  16th,  1754. 
"Gentlemen: 

"  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you  for  the  good 
opinion  you  are  pleased  to  entertain  of  me,  and  the 
honour  you  have  done  me,  in  so  unanimously  choosing 
me  an  Assistant  Minister  of  Trinity  Church.  As  I 
have  a  great  esteem  for  the  good  people  of  New-- 
York?  and  a  particular  friendship  and  regard  for  many 
of  them  with  whom  I  have  been  acquainted,  I  should 
rejoice  to  be  instrumental  in  ministering  to  their  eter- 
nal weal  and  happiness,  and  should  willingly  spend 
and  be  spent  in  that  great  and  important  work.  But 
my  advanced  years,  verging  towards  the  decline  of 
life,  are  great  matter  of  discouragement  to  me,  and 
render  me  extremely  fearful  whether  I  shall  be  able 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  107 

to  answer  your  expectations.  However,  as  this  peo- 
ple are  also  dear  to  me,  and  this  station  is  of  much 
importance  to  the  general  interest  of  the  Church  in 
these  parts,  I  must  beg  of  you,  before  I  come  to  a 
final  conclusion,  to  give  me  a  little  time  to  consider 
and  look  out  for  a  worthy  successor,  with  whom  I 
may  with  satisfaction  leave  the  care  of  them  who 
have  hitherto  been  committed  to  my  charge,  which,  if 
I  can  accomplish,  I  shall  willingly  serve  you  to  the 
uttermost  of  my  power. 

"  As  to  what  you  have  proposed  to  do  towards  my 
support,  in  conjunction  with  the  gentlemen  Trustees 
of  the  College  5  as  you  can  judge  much  better  than  I 
what  is  requisite  for  a  decent  subsistence  among  you 
if  I  should  remove,  I  must  therefore  entirely  rely  on 
your  benevolence  and  generosity.  Meantime,  I  earn- 
estly beg  of  God  that  the  result  of  both  your  delibera- 
tions and  mine,  relating  to  this  important  affair,  may- 
be such  as  will  best  promote  His  honour  and  the 
publick  good,  and  terminate  in  both  the  present  and 
everlasting  happiness  of  us  all.  I  am,  gentlemen, 
with  a  deep  sense  of  esteem  and  gratitude,  your  most 
obliged  friend  and  humble  servant, 

"  Samuel  Johnson." 

"  The  Churchwardens  were  authorized  by  the  Ves- 
try to  pay,  until  further  order,  unto  the  Reverend  Dr. 
Johnson  his  salary  as  usual  and  agreed  upon,  and  that 
in  consideration  of  his  advanced  years,  and  the  duties  of 
the  college,  he  be  desired  only  to  read  prayers  on  Sun- 
days, and  preach  one  Sunday  in  a  month  at  church  and 


108  HISTORY   OF 

chapel,  or  as  occasion  may  happen  to  require,  and  be 
agreed  upon  by  the  Rector."* 

The  following  sketch  of  the  life  and  character  of 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Johnson,  is  from  the  classic  pen  of  his 
great-grandson,  the  Hon.  Gulian  C.  Verplanck.  It  is 
drawn  from  a  fuller  biographical  memoir  of  this  distin- 
guished man,  which  appeared  in  the  Churchman's 
Magazine  for  1813 : 

"  Samuel  Johnson  was  born  at  Guilford,  Connec- 
ticut, October  14th,  1696,  and  was  descended  from  a 
respectable  family  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Connecti- 
cut After  obtaining  a  much  more  thorough  know- 
ledge of  the  learned  languages,  than  the  classical 
schools  of  New-England  at  that  time  generally 
afforded,  he  was  sent  to  the  College  of  Connecticut, 
then  first  established  at  Saybrook.  Learning  was  at 
this  period  at  its  lowest  ebb  in  New-England.  The 
first  generation  of  learned  puritans  had  died  off,  and 
their  immediate  successors,  educated  among  a  people 
too  intent  on  their  immediate  necessities  to  attend 
much  to  the  cultivation  of  general   learning,  while 


*  Ordered,  That  the  Church  Wardens  pay  unto  the  Reverend  Mr. 
Barclay  and  the  Reverend  Mr.  Auchmuty,  the  additional  sallary  of 
sixty  pounds  p.  annum  each,  formerly  allowed  them,  for  officiating  in 
the  chappel  as  well  as  the  Church,  untill  the  appointment  and  coming 
of  the  Reverend  Doctr  Johnson  to  assist  them  in  the  Parochial  duties, 
and  that  the  said  Church  Wardens  continue  the  payment  of  the  said 
additional  salary  of  sixty  pounds  to  each  of  them,  from  the  coming  of 
Doctr  Johnson  untill  further  order,  provided  they  continue  to  officiate, 
preach,  and  perform  the  parochial  duties,  as  they  did  before  the  coming 
of  Doctor  Johnson. 


TRINITY   CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  109 

they  retained  little  of  the  profound  biblical  and  classic 
lore  of  their  fathers,  were  encumbered  with  all  that 
was  useless  and  pedantic  in  their  course  of  study. 

"Just  as  Mr.  Johnson  had  received  the  usual 
academic  honors,  chance  threw  in  his  way  Lord 
Bacon's  Essay  on  the  Advancement  of  Learning, 
(perhaps  the  only  copy  at  that  time  on  this  side  the 
Atlantic,)  the  study  of  which  operated  in  his  mind 
the  same  change  which  had  already  taken  place  for 
more  than  forty  years  among  the  learned  of  Europe, 
but  of  which  no  rumor  had  yet  reached  the  literati  of 
New-England. 

"  His  mind,  naturally  patient  of  investigation,  and 
eager  for  truth,  received  with  avidity  the  flood  of  new 
ideas  thus  poured  in  upon  it,  and  he  seemed  to  him- 
self, to  use  his  own  expression, '  like  a  person  suddenly 
emerging  out  of  the  glimmer  of  twilight  into  the  full 
sunshine  of  open  day.' 

"  Shortly  after  this  memorable  epoch  in  his  life,  a 
considerable  addition  was  made  to  the  college  library, 
among  which  were  the  writings  of  the  greatest  philo- 
sophers, divines,  and  polite  scholars  of  the  age :  and 
the  then  modern  works  of  Newton,  Halley,  and 
Woodward ;  Barrow,  South,  Tillotson  and  Sherlock ; 
Bentley,  Addison  and  Steele,  were  seen  and  read  for 
the  first  time  in  the  Colony  of  Connecticut.  The 
regularly  bred  scholar  of  the  present  day,  surrounded 
and  sated  with  literary  luxury  till  he  turn  cloyed  with 
excellence  to  stimulate  his  jaded  appetite  with  novelty, 

. mala  copia  quando 


iEgrum  solicitat  stomachum, 


110  HISTORY    OF 

can  have  but  a  faint  idea  of  the  avidity  and  intense 
application  with  which  the  works  of  these  great  mas- 
ters of  reason  and  just  expression  were  perused,  and 
(to  use  the  happy  phrase  of  Gibbon)  meditated,  again 
and  again,  by  Mr.  Johnson  and  a  few  of  the  associates 
of  his  studies. 

"The  discoveries  of  Newton  particularly  excited 
his  attention,  and,  not  content  with  a  general  and 
superficial  notion  of  his  doctrines,  he  determined  to 
acquire  such  a  knowledge  of  mathematics  as  would 
enable  him  thoroughly  to  comprehend  their  grounds 
and  reasons,  and  enter  into  the  very  penetralia  of  that 
high-priest  of  nature.  In  this  design,  his  usual  reso- 
lute application  made  him  completely  successful. 
During  all  this  time,  he  never  intermitted  his  classical 
studies,  or  that  of  the  Hebrew,  of  which  he  had  early 
acquired  the  rudiments,  and  which  in  after  life  became 
the  employment  of  his  leisure,  and  the  solace  of  his 
age.  Thus  richly  stored  with  general  science,  he  was 
admirably  calculated  for  the  station  to  which  he  was 
appointed  in  1716,  of  tutor  in  the  college,  then 
removed  to  New-Haven,  and  placed  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  learned  Dr.  Cutler,  as  rector  or  president. 
Here,  for  four  years,  in  conjunction  with  the  learned 
rector,  he  was  actively  employed  in  dissipating  the 
intellectual  darkness  which  had  overspread  the  land. 
Mr.  Johnson  had  always  intended  the  Christian  min- 
istry as  his  ultimate  profession,  and  had  kept  this  in 
view  in  all  his  studies.  To  this  he  was  set  apart, 
according  to  the  forms  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
in  1720,  and  settled  at  West-Haven,  where  he  applied 
himself  to  the  duties  and  studies  of  his  profession  with 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  Hi 

exemplary  diligence  and  zeal.  He  had  been  educated 
according  to  the  strictest  forms  and  most  rigid  ortho- 
doxy of  the  independent  Calvinistic  Church,  at  that 
time  the  only  sect  known  or  tolerated  in  the  colony. 
But  in  the  course  of  a  long  and  laborious  investigation 
of  most  of  the  points  in  controversy  between  his  own 
Church  and  that  of  England,  in  which  he  was  accom- 
panied by  President  Cutler  and  a  few  other  studious 
friends,  he  and  his  friends  found  reasons  to  change 
many  of  their  opinions  on  those  points,  and  finally  to 
profess  themselves  members  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land. 

"Dr.  Cutler  resigned  his  presidency,  Mr.  Johnson 
his  church,  and  both  embarked  for  England  to  receive 
Episcopal  ordination,   where  Mr.  Johnson's  natural 
curiosity  and  love  of  knowledge  was  gratified  by  the 
attention,  conversation,  and  friendship  of  many  of  the 
most  learned  divines  of  the  Church  of  England,  with 
most  of  whom  he  maintained  a  regular  correspondence 
during  the  rest  of  his  life.     After  being  admitted  to 
Priest's  orders  in  the  Church  of  England,  Mr.  John- 
son returned  to  America,  as  a  missionary,  under  the 
patronage  of  the  Venerable  Society  for  the  Propaga- 
tion of  the  Gospel,  and  settled  at  Stratford,  a  pleasant 
village  of  Connecticut,  of  the  Episcopal  congregation 
of  which  place  he  was  the  regular  minister  5  although, 
as  he  was  for  some  time  the  only  clergyman  of  that 
denomination  in  the  colony,  his  labours  were  necessa- 
rily extended  over  a  large  tract  of  adjoining  country. 
Here  he  married,  and  gradually  overcoming,  by  the 
uniform  mildness  of  his  manners,  the  sectarian  preju- 


112  HISTORY    OF 

dices  which  had  been  excited  against  him,  continued 
for  many  years  engaged  in  the  active  duties  of  his 
calling,  and  in  the  pursuit  of  his  favorite  studies  of 
divinity  and  the  Hebrew  language. 

"  In  1729,  a  circumstance  occurred,  which  forms  a 
remarkable  epoch,  not  only  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Johnson, 
but  in  the  literary  history  of  this  country  $  the  arrival 
of  the  famous  Dean  (afterwards  Bishop)  Berkeley,  in 
America.  A  similarity  of  studies  and  principles,  soon 
produced  an  intimate  acquaintance  between  them, 
and  during  the  two  years  and  a  half  which  that  great 
and  amiable  #  man  resided  in  this  country,  a  constant 
literary  and  social  intercourse  was  kept  up  between 
them  $  and  an  uninterrupted  correspondence  was 
afterwards  maintained,  in  a  series  of  the  most  affec- 
tionate and  confidential  letters,  until  the  death  of  the 
bishop,  in  the  year  1752.  As  the  Episcopal  Church 
increased  in  Connecticut,  the  labours  of  Mr.  Johnson, 
who  was  regarded  as  its  head  and  champion,  were  still 
augmented  5  and  in  a  theological  controversy  which 
soon  followed,  he  defended  her,  in  several  tracts,  pub- 
lished at  intervals,  with  ability,  candour,  and  good 
temper. 

"In  1743,  he  received,  through  the  recommendation 
of  his  friend  Bishop  (afterwards  Archbishop)  Seeker, 
the  degree  of  Doctor  in  Divinity  f  from  the  Univer- 


*  "  To  Berkeley  every  virtue  under  heaven." — Pope. 

f  This  diploma  was  conferred  in  a  manner  the  most  flattering  to 

Dr.  Johnson.     Dr.  Hodges,  the  Vice-chancellor,  in  an  oration  before 

the  University,  spoke  of  his  character  in  the  highest  terms,  and  the 

diploma  itself  is  thus  specially  worded,  "  eumque  Rev.  vir  S.  Johnson 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW- YORK.  113 

sity  of  Oxford,  a  literary  honour  which,  in  that  ancient 
university,  has  seldom  been  by  any  means  lavishly 
bestowed,  and  cheap  as  academic  honours  have 
become  elsewhere,  is  still  regarded  with  high  respect. 
"  In  1752,  a  number  of  gentlemen  of  New-York, 
feeling  the  importance  of  establishing  some  system  of 
academic  instruction  in  that  rapidly  increasing  colony  ; 
and  perhaps  stimulated  by  the  recent  success  of  the 
Philadelphians,  undertook  the  foundation  of  a  college 
in  that  city.  In  the  next  year  an  act  of  incorporation 
was  obtained,  and  some  provision  for  a  fund  for  its 
support  was  made  by  a  succession  of  lotteries  ;  and 
soon  after  the  trustees  unanimously  chose  Dr.  Johnson 
president  of  their  college.  The  funds  of  this  institu- 
tion were  increased  by  the  donations  of  individuals  in 
the  colony,  and  by  a  liberal  grant  of  land  from  Trinity 
Church,  including  the  lot  upon  which  the  .college 
edifice  now  stands,  as  well  as  some  adjoining  ground, 
from  which  it  still  derives  the  most  considerable  part 
of  its  revenue.  Besides  this,  the  college  received  a 
benefaction  of  five  hundred  pounds  sterling  from  the 
Society  in  England  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel ; 
a  bequest  from  a  Dr.  Bristowe  of  London,  a  very 
active  member  of  the  same  society,  of  his  library, 
amounting   to   about  fifteen   hundred  volumes  5    and 


fidissimus  ad  N.  Angliam  missionarius  in  oppido  Stratford,  de  Pro- 
vincia  Connecticutensi,  enthusiasticis  dogmatibus  strenue  et  feliciter 
conflictatus,  Regiminis  Episcopalis  vindex  acerrimus,  demandatam 
curam  prudenter  adeo  et  benevole,  indefesse  ita  et  potenter  adminis- 
travit,  ut  incredibili  ecclesiae  incremento  summe  sui  expectationem 
sustinuerit  plane  et  superaverit. — Sciatis,  &c. 


114 


HISTORY    OF 


finally,  a  legacy  from  Mr.  Murray  *  of  ten  thousand 
pounds  currency,  (twenty-five  thousand  dollars.) 

u  But  after  the  erection  of  the  college  building  and 
the  purchase  of  a  philosophical  apparatus,  the  trustees 
found  it  impossible  to  proceed  on  the  liberal  plan 
which  they  had  begun,  without  encroaching  on  the 
permanent  fund,  or  obtaining  some  farther  assistance. 
This  was  supplied  by  a  collection,  made  in  England, 
for  the  joint  use  of  the  colleges  of  New-York  and 
Philadelphia,  which  produced  to  the  former  the  clear 
sum  of  six  thousand  pounds  sterling. 

"  While  this  liberal  spirit  was  displayed  on  the  part 
of  the  public,  Dr.  Johnson  was  not  inactive,  and  on 
June  17th,  1754,  he  began  the  collegiate  course  of 
instruction  alone,  with  a  class  of  twelve  students.  He 
was  shortly  after  assisted  by  his  son  William  Johnson, 
Mr.  Cutting,  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Cam- 
bridge, who  is  still  remembered  as  a  thorough-bred 
classical  scholar  5  and  Mr.  Treadwell,  of  Harvard 
College,  Massachusetts,  who  was  appointed  professor 
of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy. f 

"  In  the  midst  of  all  his  academic  labours,  Dr. 
Johnson  never  lost  sight  of  the  high  duties  of  his 
profession  5  and  he  from  time  to  time  combatted  such 
errors  as  he  deemed  of  peculiarly  dangerous  tendency 

*  Mr.  Murray  was  a  lawyer  of  great  eminence  in  the  city  of  New- 
York,  about  the  middle  of  the  last  century.  He  was  one  of  the 
Council,  and  Attorney-General  of  the  Province,  and  much  celebrated 
in  his  day  as  a  constitutional  lawyer. 

f  Mr.  Treadwell  died  in  1760,  and  was  succeeded,  as  professor  of 
Mathematics,  by  Mr.  Robert  Harper,  a  gentleman  educated  at  the 
University  of  Glasgow. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  115 

in  this  country,  in  some  tracts  and  single  sermons, 
published  about  the  year  1761 ;  while  his  popularity 
as  a  preacher  induced  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church, 
New-York,  soon  after  his  removal  to  that  city,  to  call 
him  as  a  lecturer  in  that  Church  ;  where  he  officiated 
in  turn  with  the  rector  and  assistant,  but  without 
having  any  other  parochial  charge.  After  filling  these 
stations,  for  which  he  was  so  eminently  qualified,  about 
nine  years,  finding  his  activity  gradually  impaired  by 
age  and  infirmity,  and  his  spirits  sinking  under  domes- 
tic calamity,  in  the  loss  of  his  youngest  son,  and  some 
time  after  of  his  wife  5  seeing  too,  the  college  thoroughly 
established,  and  flourishing  beyond  his  hopes  under 
the  immediate  superintendence  of  Dr.  Myles  Cooper, 
the  professor  of  Moral  Philosophy,  his  destined  suc- 
cessor, a  man  of  acknowledged  learning  and  talents  5 
he  was  induced  in  1763  to  resign  his  office  and  retire 
to  Stratford,  to  finish  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  the 
bosom  of  his  family. 

"In  this  peaceful  retreat,  he  again  resumed  the 
duties  of  a  parish  priest,  and  pursued  his  studies,  and 
discharged  his  clerical  functions,  at  the  age  of  seventy, 
with  the  same  zeal  with  which  he  had  applied  himself 
to  them  more  than  forty  years  before. 

"  Thus  occupied  in  works  of  piety  and  usefulness, 
his  virtuous  and  venerable  age  glided  peacefully  along, 
until  the  6th  of  January,  1772,  when,  after  a  very 
short,  and  apparently  slight  indisposition,  he  expired 
in  his  chair  without  a  struggle  or  a  groan.  His  remains 
are  interred  in  the  Episcopal  burying-ground  at 
Stratford,  where  a  neat  monument   is  erected  with 


116  HISTORY    OF 

the   following   inscription,   from   the   classic    pen   of 
President  Cooper : — 

M.  S. 

SAMUELIS   JOHNSON,  D.  D., 

COLLEGII    REGALIS,    NOVI    EBORACI, 

PR.ESIDIS    PRIMI, 

ET    HIIJUS    ECCLESI.E    NUPER    RECTORIS 

NATUS  DIE,  14  TO  OCTOB.   1696. 

OBIIT.  6  TO  JAN.  1772. 

If  decent  dignity  and  modest  mien, 

The  cheerful  heart  and  countenance  serene  ; 

If  pure  religion  and  unsullied  truth, 

His  age's  solace,  and  his  search  in  youth  ; 

In  charity,  through  all  the  race  he  ran, 

Still  wishing  well,  and  doing  good  to  man  ; 

If  learning,  free  from  pedantry  and  pride ; 

If  faith  and  virtue,  walking  side  by  side  ; 

If  well  to  mark  his  being's  aim  and  end, 

To  shine  through  life,  the  husband,  father,  friend  ; 

If  these  ambition  in  thy  soul  can  raise, 

Excite  thy  reverence,  or  demand  thy  praise, 

Reader,  ere  yet  thou  quit  this  earthly  scene, 

Revere  his  name,  and  be  what  he  has  been. 

"  Dr.  Johnson  was  in  person  tall,  and  in  the  decline 
of  life  rather  corpulent  5  his  countenance  was  mild  and 
pleasing.  A  good  engraving  of  him  may  be  found  in 
the  4  American  Medical  and  Philosophical  Register ' 
for  October,  1812.  He  was  remarkable  for  a  very 
uniform  and  placid  temper  and  great  benignity  of  dis- 
position, which  was  displayed  in  habitual  beneficence 
and  hospitality.  His  theology,  to  which  he  was  warmly 
attached,  was  that  of  the  Church  of  England  in  her 
purest  form.     Having  submitted  to  the  laborious  oper- 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  117 

ation  of  forming  his  own  mind  upon  every  important 
point,  without  taking  any  thing  on  trust,  or  from 
authority,  he  fully  felt  the  difficulties  attendant  on  the 
exercise  of  private  judgment  in  matters  of  religious 
difference,  and  the  importance  of  a  charitable  inter- 
pretation of  the  motives  and  principles  of  others. 
This  turn  of  thought  gave  to  his  controversial  writings, 
a  spirit  of  mildness  and  urbanity  not  always  to  be 
found  in  polemical  theology.  The  prominent  features 
of  his  mind  appear  to  have  been,  strong  and  clear 
sense,  and  a  habit  of  diligent  and  patient  investiga- 
tion." 

.The  ministers  of  the  parish  for  several  years  after 
this  period,  seem  to  have  been  labouring  with  great 
diligence  and  success.  Each  annual  account  of  Mr. 
Auchmuty  to  the  Society  appears  to  be  better  than 
the  other.  The  number  of  adults  and  infants  baptized 
by  him  among  the  blacks,  was  steadily  increasing. 
His  catechumens  were  becoming  more  numerous. 
And  additions  to  the  communion  were  also  more 
frequent.  The  Prayer  Books  and  catechisms  sent 
out  to  him  for  their  use,  he  had  distributed  among 
them,  as  he  hoped,  to  good  purpose  5  since  they  regu- 
larly attended  divine  service,  and  were  devout  and 
attentive  in  the  worship  of  the  Church.  He  took 
pleasure  in  assuring  the  Society,  that  the  negroes 
under  his  care  were  becoming  more  and  more  deserv- 
ing of  the  pains  he  took  with  them,  and  that  many  of 
them  were  a  credit  to  our  holy  religion  5  that  it  was 
an  unspeakable  satisfaction  to  him  to  find  that  his 
labours  among  the  poor  slaves  were  not  lost,  but 
through  the  goodness  of  God  produced  such  consid- 


118  HISTORY    OF 

erablc  fruit  5  and  that  not  one  single  black  who  had 
been  admitted  by  him  to  the  holy  communion,  had 
turned  out  bad,  or  been  in  any  shape  a  disgrace  to  his 
profession. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1756,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Barclay  acquainted  the  Society,  that  the  Church  had 
suffered  a  great  loss  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Colgan, 
formerly  a  catechist  in  this  parish,  but  for  many  years 
a  laborious  and  worthy  missionary  at  Jamaica  Town, 
in  Long  Island;  and  that  the  churches  under  his 
care  were  very  apprehensive  of  great  difficulties  in 
obtaining  a  clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England  to 
succeed  him,  because  the  dissenters  were  a  majority 
in  the  vestry  of  that  parish.  It  too  soon  appeared 
that  their  apprehensions  were  not  without  good  reason, 
for  the  dissenters  prevailed  by  their  majority  in  the 
vestry  to  present  one  Simon  Horton,  a  dissenting 
teacher,  to  Sir  Charles  Hardy,  the  Governor,  for 
induction  into  the  parish,  but  the  Governor,  in  obedi- 
ence to  his  instructions  from  his  Majesty,  would  not 
admit  him  into  that  cure,  because  he  could  not  pro- 
cure a  certificate  under  the  Episcopal  seal  of  the 
Bishop  of  London,  of  his  conformity  to  the  Liturgy 
of  the  Church  of  England.  And  when  no  person 
thus  qualified,  had  been  presented  to  the  Governor 
after  more  than  six  months,  his  Excellency  was  pleased 
to  collate  to  the  cure  of  the  Church  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Seabury,  Jr.,  father  of  that  true  churchman  and  sound 
divine,  the  first  Bishop  of  Connecticut,  and  great 
grandfather  of  the  distinguished  theologian  and  acute 
polemic  who  bears  his  name  at  the  present  day. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Vestry,  held  on  the  24th  of 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  119 

March,  1761,  it  was  "  resolved,  that  there  should  be 
allowed  by  this  corporation  the  sum  of  five  hundred 
pounds  current  money  of  New-York,  towards  pur- 
chasing a  new  organ  for  Trinity  Church  5  it  having 
been  proposed  by  several  gentlemen  to  raise  by  sub- 
scription so  much,  as  in  addition  to  the  said  five 
hundred  pounds,  would  amount  to  seven  hundred 
guineas.  Whereupon  it  was  ordered,  that  the  Church 
Wardens  pay  the  said  five  hundred  pounds  to  such 
person  or  persons  as  shall  undertake  to  send  for  the 
said  organ,  when  the  said  subscription  should  be 
compleat." 

And  it  was  likewise  ordered,  "that  Mr.  Thomas 
Harison  should  be  employed  as  the  organist  for  Trin- 
ity Church,  and  allowed  for  his  services  as  such,  the 
sum  of  eighteen  pounds  current  money  of  New-York 
per  quarter,  and  that  his  salary  should  commence 
from  the  first  Sunday  he  should  begin  to  play." 

In  the  course  of  a  short  time  the  amount  to  be 
raised  by  private  subscription  was  probably  filled  up, 
for  in  the  following  year  the  Churchwardens  were 
directed  by  the  Board  to  pay  to  Mr.  George  Harison 
the  sum  of  five  hundred  pounds,  voted  by  this  corpo- 
ration, towards  purchasing  an  organ  for  Trinity 
Church, 

The  next  event  to  be  noticed  is  the  death  of  Di% 
Barclay,  and  the  election  of  his  successor.  As  in  his 
arduous  mission  at  Albany  and  among  the  Mohawk 
Indians,  he  had  distinguished  himself  by  his  zeal  and 
indefatigable  labours,  "so  when  chosen  Rector  of  Trin- 
ity Church,  the  same  assiduous  attention  to  the  duties 
of  his  office,  the  same  ardor  in  promoting  religion  as 


120  HISTORY  OF 

formerly,  marked  every  step  of  his  conduct.  His 
character  was  truly  respectable,  his  disposition  most 
amiable  and  engaging.  Meek,  affable,  sweet-tem- 
pered, and  devout,  his  life  was  exemplary  5  whilst 
he  cherished  the  warmest  spirit  of  benevolence  and 
charity.  During  his  incumbency  the  congregation 
greatly  increased.  St.  George's  Chapel  was  built,  and 
the  design  was  formed  of  building  St.  Paul's.  This 
last  however  he  did  not  live  to  see  executed,  but  it 
was  accomplished  soon  after,  under  his  successor."* 

*  Note  to  a  funeral  sermon  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Inglis  on  Dr.  Auch- 
muty— -Churchman's  Magazine,  vol.  5,  pp.  82,  83. 


CHAPTER   III. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Vestry,  held  on  the  28th  day  of 
August,  17(54,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Barclay  having  departed 
this  life  on  the  20th  instant — 

It  was  unanimously  resolved  and  ordered,  that  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Auchmuty  be,  and  he  is  hereby  elected,  called,  and  chosen  to  be 
Rector  of  Trinity  Church  in  this  city,  in  the  room  and  place  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Henry  Barclay,  late  Rector,  deceased;  and  that  Mr. 
Williams  and  Mr.  Stuyvesant  be  desired  to  wait  ou  the  said  Mr. 
Auchmuty,  to  acquaint  him  With  this  resolution,  and  to  know  if  he 
will  accept  of  the  said  call,  and  report  his  answer  thereupon  immedi* 
ately  to  this  Board. 

The  said  Mr.  Williams  and  Mr.  Stuyvesant  having  waited  on  Mr. 
Auchmuty  pursuant  to  their  appointment,  reported  that  he  would 
accept  of  the  said  call ;  and  he  being  introduced  into  the  Vestry 
room,  he  again  declared  his  assent  to,  and  accepted  the  said  call. 
Whereupon  it  was  ordered,  that  this  Board  present  the  said  Mr. 
Auchmuty  to  his  Honour  the  Lieutenant  Covernour,  and  desire  he 
may  be  admitted  and  Instituted  as  Rector,  and  Inducted  into  the  said 
Church  ;  and  a  presentation  being  prepared  for  that  purpose  to  the 
Honorable  Cadwallader  Colden,  Esq.,  His  Majesty's  Lieutenant 
Governor,  and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Province  of  New- York, 
and  the  Territories  depending  thereon,  in  America,  and  the  same 
being  read,  was  signed  and  sealed  by  all  the  members  present. 

The  proceedings  with  respect  to  the  presentation 
of  Mr.  Auchmuty  to  the  Governor,  the  Governor's 
admission  to  him,  the  letters  of  institution,  the  man- 
date to  induct  him,  and  the  certificate  of  his  induction, 
8 


1S2  HISTORY   OF 

being  the  same  as  in  the  case  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Barclay* 
it  is  unnecessary  to  repeat  them. 

At  the  same  meeting,  the  question  being  put,  whether  two  Gentle- 
men of  the  Clergy  should  be  called  as  Assistant  Ministers  to  the 
Rector  in  his  parochial  dutys,  or  only  one,  it  was  resolved  by  a  majo- 
rity, that  fur  the  present  one  would  be  sufficient.  Whereupon  it  Mas 
resolved  and  ordered,  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Charles  Inglis  (a  Gentleman 
well  recommended  by  the  Rector)  be  called  as  Assistant  to  the  said 
Rector  in  his  Parochial  duties,  and  that  he  be  allowed  for  that  service 
by  this  corporation  a  salary  of  Two  hundred  pounds  currency  p.  annum, 
besides  what  may  be  raised  for  him  by  subscription,  and  that  he  be 
also  allowed  twenty  Pistoles  for  his  travelling  expenses. 

Resolved,  That  the  Rector  and  Church  Wardens  be  desired  to 
write  to  Mr.  Winslow,  returning  him  the  thanks  of  this  corporation 
for  his  kindness  in  performing  Divine  Senile  during  the  Indisposition 
of  the  late  Rector,  Doctor  Barclay,  and  that  they  have  power  to  present 
him  the  sum  of  fifty  pounds  as  a  gratuity  for  the  same,  and  beg  his 
acceptance  thereof. 

At  the  very  next  meeting  of  the  Vestry,  however,  the 
question  whether  there  should  be  one  or  two  Assistant 
Ministers  was  reconsidered,  and  it  was  then 

Resolved  and  Ordered,  That  the  Reverend  Mr.  John  Ogilvie,  (a 
Gentleman  well  recommended  by  the  Church  Wardens,)  be  called  as 
an  Assistant  Minister  to  the  Rector  in  his  Parochial  duties,  and  that 
he  be  allowed  for  that  service  by  this  corporation  a  salary  of  Two 
hundred  pounds  currency  p.  annum,  besides  what  may  be  raised  for 
him  by  subscription. 

The  news  of  Dr.  Barclay's  death>was  communicated 
to  the  Society  by  Mr.  Auchmuty  in  his  letter  dated 
September  10,  1764,  together  with  the  announcement 
of  the  fact,  that  he  had  been  appointed  to  succeed 
him  as  Rector  of  Trinity  Church  j  and  being  thus  de- 
cently provided  for,  he  took  occasion  to  return  his  most 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  123 

sincere  thanks  to  the  Society  for  their  bounty  to  him 
as  catechist  to  the  blacks  $  which  trust,  as  we  have 
seen,  was  discharged  by  him  with  so  much  fidelity  and 
success. 

A  short'  time  after,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Auchmuty  com- 
municated to  the  Board  a  letter  to  himself,  from  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Charles  Inglis,  in  the  following  words : 

Philadelphia,  Decern1"  3d,  17G4. 
Rev'd,  Worthy  Sik  : 

When  Mrs.  Inglis  lay  on  her  death-bed,  I  fore- 
saw the  difficulties  that  would  attend  my  removal 
from  Dover,  and  therefore  wrote  to  you  then,  releas- 
ing you  from  your  engagement  to  me,  and  requesting 
you  to  provide  some  person  to  supply  my  place  as 
assistant.  Every  letter  you  received  from  me  since, 
was  written  in  much  distress  and  perplexity  of  mind, 
as  you  may  naturally  suppose,  and  in  doubt  as  to  my 
removal,  in  consequence  of  these  difficulties  on  the 
one  hand,  and  my  inclination  to  settle  at  New-York 
on  the  other. 

I  have  lately  had  a  better  opportunity  of  knowing 
the  state  of  my  mission' than  formerly,  when  my  mind 
was  first  overwhelmed  with  my  loss.  I  shall  therefore 
lay  its  state  before  you,  and  then  explicitly  tell  my 
resolution  in  consequence  of  it.  This  I  should 
have  .done  before  had  not  my  affliction,  and  per- 
plexity occasioned  ,by  it,  prevented  me.  Mrs.  In- 
glis's  state  of  health'  was  my  principal  reason  for 
leaving  Dover.  Altho"'  there  was  much  discontent 
among  my  people  at  hearing  of  my  intended  removal, 
yet  this  reason  in  some  measure  silenced,  tho5  it  did 
not  fully  satisfy  them.     On  her  death,  they  renewed 


124  HISTORY    OP 

their   solicitations   for    my    continuance   with    more 
warmth,  and  indeed  the  principal  cause  of  my  removal 
was  no  more.     When  I  engaged  to  settle  at  Norfolk, 
Dr.  Smith  proposed  sending  another  person  to  succeed 
me  at  Dover.      My  people,  however,   would  by  no 
means  consent  to  have  him,  nor  is  there  any  prospect 
of  another  to  go  there.      There   are   two   churches 
which  are  begun  in  my   mission,  chiefly  through  my 
persuasion,  yet  unfinished,  and  the   congregations  of 
these  churches  absolutely  declare  they  will  lay  aside 
all  thoughts  of  finishing  them  if  I  go  away.     A  new 
mission  is  on  the  point  of  being  opened,   and  that 
design  must  also  necessarily  drop,  if  I  remove.     Pres- 
byterians and   Quakers  are  making  daily  encroach- 
ments on  us,  but  especially  a  mad  enthusiast,  who  has 
lately   started  up  where   the   new  mission  is  to  be 
opened,  has  seduced  many  to  his  pernicious  delusions, 
and  even  the  rumour  of  my  going  away  has  gained 
him  some  proselytes,  and  elated  him  much.     All  these 
particulars  put  together,  will  leave  no  doubt,  I  think, 
with  any  impartial  person,  that  it  is  my  duty  to  con- 
tinue in  my  mission  till  it  can  be  better  settled.     For 
my  part,  my  conscience  would  ever  reproach  me  to 
leave  it  thus,  nor  could  I  in  that  case  expect  a  bless- 
ing from  Heaven.    Believe  me,  sir,  it  is  with  reluctance 
that  I  lay  aside  the  thoughts  of  settling  now  in  your 
city.     I  have  the  most  grateful  sense  of  your  kindness, 
as  well  as  the  kindness  of  several  worthy  members 
of  your  church,  with  whom  I  had  the  honour  to  be 
acquainted.     Be  pleased  to  return  them  my  sincerest 
thanks,    especially   to    your    Church    Wardens   and 
Vestry,    This  I  should  do  now  in  person  myself,  but 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  125 

it  is  my  opinion,   as  well  as  the  opinion  of  all  my 

friends,  my  going  to  New-York  at  this  time,  as  matters 

are  now  situated,  would  answer  no  good  end — perhaps 

perplex  matters  more.     I  shall  he  detained  in  this  city 

a  few  days  by  the  death  of  an  uncle-in-law.     It  would 

give  me  much  pleasure  to  hear  from  you  in  that  time. 

If  any  thing  I  can  do  or  say  consistent  with  what 

conscience  assures  me  to  be   my  duty,  will  give  any 

further  satisfaction  to  you,  or  your  people,  you  may 

readily  command  me  ;  being  with  sincere  esteem  to 

them,  and  you,  Rev'd  Sir,  your  affectionate  Brother 

and  Servant  in  Christ, 

Charles  Inglis. 

What  circumstances  led  Mr.  Inglis  to  change  his 
mind,  and  finally  accept  the  invitation,  which  after  so 
much  reflection  he  had  definitively  declined,  I  have 
no  means  of  explaining.  He  did  not,  however,  move 
to  New-York,  nor  enter  upon  the  duties  of  his  office, 
until  the  month  of  December,  1705. 

On  communicating  this  change  in  his  intention  to 
the  Venerable  Society,  in  whose  employment  he  ljad 
been,  he  received  permission  to  accept  the  appoint- 
ment of  assistant  to  Dr.  Auchmuty,  and  Catechist  to 
the  negroes  at  New-York. 

In  the  outset  of  life,  "  he  had  conducted  the  free 
school  at  Lancaster,  in  Pennsylvania,  for  several 
years,  to  the  satisfaction  of  all,  and  had  thus  become 
favourably  known  to  the  clergy  of  the  neighbourhood, 
who  now  testified  of  him  as  a  young  gentleman  of 
unblemished  character,  discreet  in  his  behaviour,  and 
free  from  even  the  suspicion  of  any  thing  unbecoming. 
With  these  high  testimonials  he  went  to  England,  was 


126 


HISTORY    OF 


admitted  by  the  Bishop  of  London  to  holy  orders, 
and  re-embarked  for  his  humble  mission,  to  which  a  sal- 
ary of  £50  a  year  was  attached.  Such  was  the  modest 
commencement  of  a  career  which  was  destined  to  be 
marked  by  various  fortunes,  and  distinguished  by  ser- 
vices of  the  highest  value  to  the  Church. 

u  Mr.  lnglis,  after  a  long  and  dangerous  voyage, 
arrived  at  Dover  on  the  1st  of  July,  1759,  and  at  this 
distance  of  time,  eighty-six  years,  it  is  "  a  circumstance 
of  no  ordinary  interest,  "  that  the  son  is  still  minister- 
ing with  unimpaired  vigour  and  energy  one  division 
of  that  important  diocese  which,  when  it  was  first 
placed  under  the  father's  spiritual  superintendence, 
comprehended  the  whole  of  the  British  colonies  in 
that  quarter  of  the  world. 

"Mr.  lnglis,  on  coming  to  his  mission,  found  the 
situation  unhealthy,  from  the  neighbourhood  of  low, 
marshy  lands.  There  were  within  it  three  churches, 
but  that  at  Dover  was  in  a  most  ruinous  condition. 
He  soon,  however,  contrived  to  restore  it,  and  to 
build  a  fourth  on  the  borders  of  Maryland.  The 
mission  comprised  the  whole  county  of  Kent,  thirty- 
three  miles  in  length,  and  ten  in  breadth,  with  a  popu- 
lation of  7000,  of  which  a  third  belonged  to  the 
communion  of  the  Church. 

"In  1763,  he  informed  the' Society  of  its  flourishing 
state,  as  evidenced  by -the  erection  and  restoration  of 
churches,  the  crowds  who  attended  divine  service, 
the  return  of  dissenters  to  the  Church,  and  the  revival 
in  many  of  a  spirit  of  piety.  His  own  health  he 
described  as  much  affected  by  the  dampness  of  the 
situation,  as  well  as  by  the  excessive  fatigue  of  having 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  127 


to  attend  stations  distant  severally,  fourteen,  seventeen, 
and  eighteen  miles  from  his  own  residence. 

"  Daring  the  six  years  of  his  ministration  at  Dover, 
he  had  baptized  756  children,  and  twenty-three  adults, 
while  within  the  same  period,"  the  number  of  his 
communicants  had  more  than  doubled. 

"  The  Churchwardens  and  Vestry  of  Dover,  on 
the  occasion  of  his  departure,  wrote  to  express  their 
great  regret  at  his  going,  and  to  testify  that  he  had 
with  unwearied  diligence  attended  four  churches,  dis- 
charging every  duty  of  his  functions,  and  conducting 
himself  on  all  occasions  in  a  manner  truly  laudable 
and  exemplary."* 

Mr.  Inglis  entered  upon  his  duties,  as  an  Assistant 
Minister  in  the  Parish  of  Trinity  Church,  on  the  6th 
of  December,  1765.  That  they  were  faithfully  and 
conscientiously  fulfilled,  may  be  fairly  inferred  from 
the  whole  course  of  his  former  life,  and  from  the 
growing  estimate  of  the  importance  and  value  of  his 
services,  which  ultimately  raised  him  to  the  highest 
rank  in  his  profession.  But  of  the  peaceful  tenour  of 
his  days  in  this  new  situation,  I  have  been  unable  to 
find  any  striking  memento,  except  one  in  the  parish 
record,  which  is  somewhat  remarkable — that  during 
his  connection  with  it,  a  period  of  seventeen  years,  he 
appears  to  have  married  925  couples. 

The  Rev.  John  Ogilvie,  who  was  called  as  an 
Assistant  Minister  of  Trinity  Church  a  short  time 
after  the  election  of  Mr.  Inglis,  entered,  however, 
upon  the  duties  of  his  office  in  the  parish  about  a 

*  Hawkins'  Missions  of  the  Church  of  England,  pp.  323,  324,  325. 


128 


HISTORY    OF 


year  before  him.  In  noticing  this  appointment,  I  can- 
not help  remarking  the  judiciousness  and  fitness  of  all 
the  appointments  which  were  made  by  the  Vestry  $ 
nor  from  running  into  a  digression  to  show  the  ground 
of  the  remark,  in  this  particular  case.  He  had  long 
before  commended  himself  to  the  approbation  and 
good-will  of  all  the  churchmen  in  the  colony,  by  his 
devotedness  as  a  parish  clergyman,  and  his  zeal  as  a 
missionary. 

On  the  removal  of  Mr.  Henry  Barclay  to  New-York, 
the  Indian  mission  remained  vacant  for  a  considerable 
time,  but  was  filled  up  in  1748,  by  the  appointment,  on 
Mr.  Barclay's  recommendation,  of  Mr.  Ogilvie,  as  a 
young  gentleman  of  an  extraordinary  good  character, 
educated  at  Yale  College,  in  Connecticut,  and  one 
who  was,  in  an  especial  manner,  qualified  for  the  duty 
at  Albany,  by  being  able  to  officiate  in  the  Dutch 
language. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Ogilvie  writes  to  the  Society,  that  as 
soon  as  the  season  of  the  year  would  permit,  he  left 
New-York,  and  got  to  Albany  on  the  1st  of  March, 
1749,  and  that  he  was  very  kindly  received  by  the 
commanding  officer  of  Fort  Frederick,  and  by  the 
chief  persons  of  the  place  5  that  though  the  inhabi- 
tants thereof  were  much  diminished  by  the  removal 
of  many  English  families  in  the  late  war  to  New- 
York,  yet  the  number  of  his  hearers  had  far  exceeded 
his  expectations  5  that  he  preached  twice  on  Sundays,, 
and  read  prayers  and  catechized  on  Wednesdays  near 
fifty  white  children ';  and  as  many  of  the  blacks  ap- 
peared desirous  of  instruction,  he  catechized  them  on 
Sundays  in  the  afternoon  after  divine  service.     At  a 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  129 

subsequent  period,  it  appears  that  he  had  three  ser- 
vices in  the  Church  at  Albany  every  Lord's  Day,  that 
all  ranks  of  people  might  have  the  benefit  of  public 
worship  5  that  his  parochial  duties  were  abundant  and 
laborious  5  and  that  his  pious  endeavours  were 
blessed  with  signal  success. 

On  the  5th  of  June  he  went  up  to  the  Mohawks 
with  the  interpreter  of  the  Province.  He  was  met 
there  by  two  of  the  principal  sachems,  who  congratu- 
lated him  on  his  arrival,  and  expressed  great  thank- 
fulness to  the  Society  for  sending  him  to  them  $  and 
they  promised  to  use  their  best  endeavours  to  influ- 
ence the  Indians  to  be  attentive  to  his  instructions, 
and  to  do  all  in  their  power  to  make  his  life  agreeable. 
A  few  Sundays  after  this  interview,  he  administered 
the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  to  thirteen  of 
them,  who  behaved  with  great  propriety  and  devotion, 
while  too  many  others  he  remarked  had  so  far  degen- 
erated into  drunkards,  as  that  his  chief  hopes  were 
placed  on  the  rising  generation ;  the  children  being 
universally  disposed  to  learn. 

In  a  communication  to  the  Society  seven  years 
later,  he  states  that  his  endeavours  had  not  been 
unsuccessful,  many  of  the  Mohawks  of  both  castles 
appearing  to  have  a  serious  and  habitual  sense  of  reli- 
gion. When  at  home,  they  regularly  attended  divine 
worship,  and  participated  frequently  of  the  Lord's 
Supper,  and  though  out  upon  the  hunt,  several  of 
them  came  sixty  miles  to  communicate  on  Christmas- 
Day,  1755.  The  whole  number  of  communicants  at 
this  time  amounted  to  fifty. 

In  his  account  of  those  whom  he  had  baptized  in 


130  HISTORY  OF 

the  following  year,  he  mentioned  that  two  of  them 
were  the  children  of  the  famous  half-Indian  king,  who 
distinguished  himself  so  much  in  the  fatal  expedition 
under  General  Braddock,  when  twelve  principal  men 
of  the  Mohawks  fell  in  the  battle,  six  of  whom  were 
regular  communicants  of  the  Church,  and  while  they 
were  in  the  field,  good  old  Abraham,  one  of  their 
sachems,  performed  divine  service  to  them  morning 
and  evening. 

Mr.  Ogilvie  appears  to  have  retired  from  this  mis- 
sion in  1760,  in  which  he  was  succeeded  by  Mr. 
Brown,  a  chaplain  in  the  army. 

He  was  well  remembered  in  my  early  life  by  several 
of  our  aged  parishioners,  and  greatly  admired  as  a 
popular  and  captivating  lecturer.  It  was  probably  on 
this  account  that  he  was  represented,  in  a  very  spir- 
ited portrait  of  him,  painted  by  the  celebrated  Copley, 
and  now  in  the  Vestry  office  of  Trinity  Church,  with 
the  Bible  opened  before  him,  and  familiarly  engaged 
in  expounding  the  Scriptures.  I  can  easily  conceive 
that  there  might  have  been  good  ground  for  this  repu- 
tation, for  I  have  a  vivid  recollection  of  one  of  his 
manuscript  sermons  that  I  met  with  some  forty  years 
since,  written  from  the  text,  "  We  all  do  fade  as  a 
leaf,"  which  at  that  time  struck  me  as  a  composition 
of  great  elegance  and  beauty. 

Though  Dr.  Ogilvie,  as  it  may  be  presumed  from 
his  laboriousness  and  zeal  in  the  stations  which  he 
occupied  during  the  first  part  of  his  ministry,  was 
doubtless  diligent  and  faithful  also  in  the  discharge  of 
his  duties  as  an  Assistant  Minister  of  Trinity  Church ; 
yet  I  have  not  been  able  to  find  any  thing  more  in 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  131 

relation  to  it,  than  the  scanty  notice  which  I  have 
already  given.*  Indeed,  he  himself,  in  one  respect 
at  least,  from  a  thoughtless  neglect,  threw  a  mantle  of 
oblivion  over  his  own  acts,  which,  however  immaterial 
on  private,  could  not  be  justified  on  public  accounts. 
For  I  find  an  entry  on  the  Parish  Register,  written 
by  Mr.  Inglis,  after  he  had  become  Rector,  that  no 
returns  of  his  baptisms  and  marriages  appear  to  have 
been  made,  if  he  ever  kept  a  record  of  them,  and  the 
blank  therefore,  with  all  its  inconveniences  has,  and 
must  remain,  for  ever  unfilled. 

The  last  trace  that  I  can  discover  of  him,  is  in  one 
of  his  communications  in  1774,  wherein  he  recom- 
mends the  inhabitants  of  Fredericksburgh  to  the 
notice  of  the  Society,  and  promises  that  a  glebe  of  at 
least  one  hundred  acres  of  the  best  improved  land, 
the  right  of  which  was  vested  in  himself  and  two 
other  gentlemen  of  rank  and  character,  should  be 
located  and  conveyed  to  the  use  of  the  Church.  The 
Society's  grateful  acceptance  of  this  proposal  probably 
never  reached  that  worthy  person,  whose  death  fol- 
lowed soon  after  it  was  made. 

The  following  short  sketch  of  his  life  and  character, 
is  gathered  from  a  sermon  which  was  preached  to  the 
congregation  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Inglis,  on  account  of 
his  death : 

After  indulging  in  a  train  of  reflections  which  the 


*  Since  this  was  written,  I  have  accidentally  met  with  a  fuller 
account  of  his  labours,  in  a  funeral  sermon,  which  was  preached  by 
Mr.  Inglis  on  occasion  of  his  death. 


132  HISTORY    OF 

occasion  suggested,  he  remarks,  u  his  death  is  an  afflic- 
tion to  you,  and  a  general  loss  to  the  Church  of  God. 

"Nine  years  have  I  lived  with  him  in  perfect  har- 
mony and  friendship.  Much  was  he  endeared  to  me 
by  his  many  amiable  qualities,  by  a  union  of  affection 
and  principles,  and  by  our  joint  endeavours  in  the 
ministry  of  the  Gospel.  To  mention  him  therefore  in 
this  place,  which,  now  alas  !  must  know  him  no  more, 
is  not  only  a  debt  of  friendship  which  I  owe  to  his 
memory,  but  it  may  also  be  of  service  to  you. 

"  He  was  born  in  this  city,  and  many  of  you  know 
that  he  remembered  his  Creator  in  the  days  of  his 
youth.  Even  at  that  period,  he  strove  to  turn  others 
to  righteousness,  which  seemed  to  be  the  principal 
object  of  his  whole  life  afterwards. 

"  He  devoted  himself  early  to  the  service  of  the 
altar,  and  his  first  situation  after  he  entered  into  holy 
orders,  as  missionary  to  the  Mohawk  Indians,  was 
such  as  suited  his  glowing  zeal  to  promote  the  honour 
of  God  and  the  salvation  of  souls.  I  may  say  that  he 
was  placed  on  the  fartherest  limit  of  the  Messiah's  king- 
dom, for  all  beyond  it  was  one  dark  and  dismal  gloom, 
unenlightened  by  any  ray  from  the  Sun  of  Righteous- 
ness. Here  he  faithfully  laboured,  and  with  success, 
to  add  the  heathen  to  his  Master's  inheritance,  and 
the  uttermost  part  of  the  earth  to  his  possession. 

"  Those  qualifications  which  enable  a  person  to  be 
useful  in  the  sacred  ministry,  were  possessed  by  him 
in  an  eminent  degree.  His  person  was  tall  and  grace- 
ful, his  aspect  sweet  and  commanding,  his  voice 
excellent,  his  elocution  easy  and  pleasing,  his  imagina- 
tion Atvely,  his  memory  retentive,  and  his  judgment 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  133 


solid.  His  temper  was  even,  unclouded,  and  such  as 
scarcely  any  accident  could  ruffle.  His  heart  was 
humane,  tender,  and  benevolent,  burning  with  zeal  for 
the  good  of  others. 

"  With  what  unwearied  industry  he  attended  the 
duties  of  his  function,  you  all  know.     Like  the  first 
heralds  of  the  blessed  Gospel,  daily  in  the  temple  of 
God  and  in  every  house,  he   ceased  not  to  teach  and 
preach  Jesus  Christ.     Indeed,  I  may  apply  to  him 
what  St.  Paul  says  of  himself  to  the  Thessalonians, 
Ye  are  witnesses,  and  God  also,  how  holily,  and  justly, 
and  unblameably  he  behaved  himself  among    you  5 
how  he  exhorted,  and  comforted,  and  charged  every 
one  of  you  as  a  father  doth  his  children,  that  ye  might 
walk  worthy  of  God,  who  hath  called  you  to  his  king- 
dom and  glory.     The  number  of  those  who  resorted 
to  him  for  advice  was  very  great,  and  few  were  capa- 
ble of  giving  better  on  every  occasion.     He  knew 
how  to  comfort  the  afflicted,  to  confirm  the  wavering, 
to  instruct  the  ignorant,  to  cheer  the  desponding,  to 
strengthen  the  weak,  and  to  check  the  forward.     The 
time  would  fail  me,  to  trace  this  excellent  man  through 
the  various  scenes  of  life,  and  the  different  characters 
he  sustained  with  so  much  dignity  and  lustre.     His 
conduct  and  manners   were   regulated  by  the  calm 
dictates  of  benevolence,   piety,   and   prudence,   and 
were  so  happily  tempered,  that  even  those  who  were 
no  warm  friends  to  religion  revered  him.     The  conse- 
quence was  such  as  might  naturally  be  expected — 
few  clergymen  have  been  so  extensively  useful — few 
so  much  beloved  and  esteemed  as  Dr.  Ogilvie. 

w  The  concluding  scene  of  his  life  was  suitable  to 


134 


HISTORY    OF 


the  former  part  of  it,  for  he  was  about  his  Master's 
business  when  the  awful  message  came  to  summon 
him  into  eternity.  In  the  house  of  God,  after  o!e- 
voutly  addressing  his  Heavenly  Father  in  the  evening 
service  of  our  Church,  he  took  his  text,  The  Lord  is 
upright,  he  is  my  rock,  and  there  is  no  unrighteousness 
in  him  ;  and  whilst  the  unfinished  sentence  yet  hung 
upon  his  tongue,  his  master  called  him  to  leave  this 
scene  of  sorrow  and  of  trouble,  to  be  present  with 
himself."  * 

In  the  brief  period  of  ten  years  the  parish  had 
prospered  to  such  a  degree,  under  the  laborious  and 
faithful  ministrations  of  its  clergy,  that  it  was  deemed 
expedient  to  provide  another  church  for  the  accom- 
modation of  its  members.  The  building  of  St.  Paul's 
Chapel  was  commenced  in  1763,  and  completed  in 
1765.  In  beauty  of  design,  justness  of  proportion, 
and  tasteful  embellishment,  it  was  unequalled,  at  the 


*  "  He  went  to  Church  in  seemingly  good  health,  to  lecture  in  the 
afternoon,  which  was  his  constant  practice  on  Fridays.  He  read 
prayers  as  usual,  and  baptized  a  child.  He  gave  out  his  text,  but 
before  he  could  proceed  further  with  his  lecture  than  to  repeat  a  sen- 
tence or  two,  he  was  deprived  of  his  speech  by  a  stroke  of  apoplexy. 
Under  the  effects  of  this  fatal  disorder  he  languished  for  some  days. 
During  the  interval,  a  great  part  of  which  was  spent  in  prayer  and 
devout  ejaculations,  he  showed  the  utmost  patience  and  submission. 
On  Saturday  morning,  November  26,  1774,  without  a  struggle  or  a 
groan,  he  expired,  in  the  fifty-first  year  of  his  age.  By  his  last  will 
he  bequeathed  £300  to  the  Charity  School,  £100  to  King's  College, 
and  £100  to  the  Corporation  for  the  relief  of  the  widows  and  children 
of  clergymen,  hereby  exhibiting  that  uniform  attention  to  the  happi- 
ness and  welfare  of  mankind,  which  regulated  each  step  of  his  con- 
duct  through  life." 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  135 

time,  throughout  our  country  $  and  in  this  style  of 
architecture  has  not  been  Surpassed  to  the  present 
day,  It  is  a  little  singular,  however,  that  the  repre- 
sentation by  L'Enfant,  of  the  giving  of  the  law  at 
Mount  Sinai  immediately  over  the  altar,  where  we 
celebrate  in  the  holy  mysteries  the  highest  instance  of 
God's  love  to  sinful  men,  and  which  is  objected  to  by 
many  as  inappropriate  in  position  and  offensive  to 
taste,  should  nevertheless  have  been  highly  approved 
of  by  the  Vestry  of  that  day,  and  a  formal  record  of 
it  entered  on  the  minutes. 

The  order  for  commencing  the  erection  of  this  new 
chapel,  on  the  Church  ground  upon  the  corner  of 
Division-street,  (now  Fulton,)  was  passed  at  a  meet- 
ing of  the  Vestry  held  the  3d  day  of  November,  1763. 

At  this  meeting  it  was  also  ordered,  that  what 
moneys  might  from  time  to  time  be  in  the  hands  of  the 
Churchwardens  more  than  was  necessary  to  answer 
the  annual  expenses  of  the  Church  and  Chapel, 
should  be  applied  towards  purchasing  the  materials 
and  carrying  on  the  building  of  the  Church. 

Though  the  estate  of  the  corporation  at  that  time 
had  become  more  productive,  its  resources  were  still 
on  a  very  limited  scale.  Authority  was  therefore 
given  to  the  Wardens  on  several  occasions,  to  borrow 
different  sums  not  exceeding  the  gross  amount  of 
£15,750,  for  carrying  on  the  building  of  the  chapel, 
and  finishing  the  porticoes  and  fences. 

St.  Paul's  Chapel  was  opened  on  the  30th  of  October, 
1766,  and  it  was  resolved  by  the  Vestry,  that  the  thanks 
of  this  Board  should  be  given  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Auch- 
muty,  for.  his  sermon  preached  at  the  dedication  thereof, 


136 


HISTORY    OF 


and  a  copy  of  it  requested  for  publication.     At  the 
same  time,  his  Excellency  Sir  Henry  Moore  expressed 
a  desire  of  introducing  in  it  a  band  of  music,  which 
request  was  granted  on  the  condition  that  the  band 
should  only  join  in  such  part  of  the  service  as  was 
usual  and  customary  in  like  cases,  and  that  no  other 
pieces  of  music  should  be  allowed  but  such  only  as 
were  adapted  to  the  service  of  the  Church  on  such 
solemn  occasions.     It  is  a  little  remarkable,  that  one 
of  the  persons*  who  attended  at  the  opening  of  this 
chapel,  was  also  present,  after  the  lapse  of  eighty 
years,  at  the  recent  consecration  of  Trinity  Church. 
There  are  some  other  circumstances  also  in  connec- 
tion with  this  building,  which  are  worthy  of  notice. 
The  inauguration  of  Washington,  as  President  of  the 
United  States,  took  place,  as  is  well  known,  at  the  City 
Hall.      After  the  ceremonial  was  over,  the  General 
retired,  with  the  civil  and  military  officers  in  attend- 
ance, to  St.  Paul's  Chapel,  in  order  to  unite  with  them 
in  such  religious  services  as  were  appropriate  to  the 
occasion.     And  here  also  he  frequently  received  the 
holy  communion,  an  act  of  faith  and  devotion,  in  which 
it  is  lamentable  to  think  that  he  has  not  been  imitated 
by  any  of  his  successors. 

In  1774,  the  Rev.  John  Vardiil,  God-father  of 
Gen.  Laight,  now  a  member  of  the  Vestry,  was  called 
as  an  Assistant  Minister  of  Trinity  Church.  He  was 
then  in  England,  but  in  consequence  of  the  trou- 
bles which  were  impending  over  the  colonies,  he 
never  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office.     About 

*  Mr.  John  P.  Groshon,  now  residing  at  Yonkers,  Westchester. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  137 

the  same  time  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Moore  and  the  Rev. 
John  Bowden  were  likewise  called  to  the  same  office. 
In  reference  to  these  several  persons,  the  following 
action  took  place  in  the  Vestry  : 

"  Resolved,  That  if  the  sum  of  six  hundred  and 
eighty-three  pounds,  or  upwards,  can  be  raised  by 
subscription  on  such  security's  as  will  be  satisfactory 
to  the  Rcv'd  Mr.  Benjamin  Moore  and  the  Reverend 
Mr.  John  Bowden,  that  in  that  case  the  Vestry  will 
call  them  both  as  Assistant  Ministers  in  this  parish  $ 
that  the  Reverend  Mr.  Inglis  shall  be  allowed  out  of 
the  said  subscriptions  the  sum  of  two  hundred  pounds 
annually  $  the  Rev.  Mr.  Vardill  fifty  pounds  annual- 
ly, and  the  other  two  gentlemen,  if  called,  shall  divide 
the  residue  of  the  said  subscriptions  equally  between 
them,  and  in  that  case  this  corporation  will  also  pay 
to  the  said  Mr.  Moore  and  Mr.  Bowden  out  of  the 
Church  funds,  the  annual  sum  of  fifty  pounds  each, 
for  which  two  last  mentioned  sums  only  this  corpora- 
tion will  be  answerable.  Ordered,  that  Mr.  Crom- 
eline,  Mr.  Kissam,  Mr.  Vandam,  3Jr.  Renaudct,  Mr, 
Shcrbrooke,  Mr.  Ludlow,  Mr.  Bachc,  and  Mr.  Goe- 
let,  be  a  committee  to  solicit  subscriptions,  and  that 
they  take  to  their  assistance  such  other  gentlemen  of 
the  Vestry  as  they  shall  think  proper,  and  that  report 
ado  thereof  to  this  Board  in  three  weeks,  when 
the}  will  proceed  to  call  the  said  two  Assistant  Min- 
isters in  case  sufficient  subscriptions  be  obtained  for 
both,  or  otherwise  they  will  call  one  of  them  ;  that 
the  subscription  papers  shall  contain  a  clause  for  pay- 
ing the  respective  subscriptions  during  the  residence 
of  the  respective  subscribers  in  the  city,  save  only  that 


138  HISTORY    OF 

in  case  of  death  or  removal  of  either  of  the  said  four 
ministers,  such  proportions  of  the  subscriptions  shall 
be  deducted  as  was  requisite  for  paying  his  proportion 
of  the  subscription  money. 

"  The  several  subscription  rolls  were  returned,  but  it 
being  suggested  to  the  Board  by  some  of  the  com- 
mittee, that  there  had  not  been  sufficient  time  allowed 
to  complete  the  subscriptions,  it  was  thereupon 
ordered,  that  the  time  for  completing  the  same  be 
enlarged  till  this  day  fortnight. 

"  The  committee  that  was  appointed  to  solicit  sub- 
scriptions towards  the  support  of  the  Assistant  Min- 
isters, returned  the  several  subscription  rolls,  which, 
with  other  verbal  engagements,  amounted  to  the  sum 
of  £691  2s.  Qd.  Whereupon  it  was  ordered,  that 
Mr.  Desbrosses,  Mr.  Bache,  Mr.  Kissam,  and  Mr. 
Duane,  or  any  three  of  them,  be  a  committee  to  wait 
on  the  Reverend  Mr.  Moore  and  the  Reverend  Mr  . 
Bowden,  to  acquaint  them  with  the  state  of  the  said 
subscriptions  and  other  engagements  for  their  salarys, 
and  to  know  whether  they  will  accept  of  a  call  on 
these  terms. 

"  The  committee  that  was  appointed  to  wait  on  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Benjamin  Moore  and  the  Reverend 
Mr.  John  Bowden,  reported  that  they  had  waited  on 
them  according  to  their  appointment,  and  informed 
them  separately  of  the  state  of  the  subscriptions  and 
other  engagements  for  their  support,  and  desired  their 
answers  whether  they  would  engage  as  Assistant  Min- 
isters of  the  Church  upon  those  terms,  and  at  the 
same  time  acquainted  them  that  such  was  the  state  of 
the  funds  of  this  corporation,  that  they  had  resolved 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  139 

not  to  be  answerable  for  any  deficiency  that  might 
happen  in  collecting  the  said  subscriptions  and  other 
sums  upon  verbal  engagements.  And  that  the  said 
Mr.  Moore  and  Mr.  Bowdcn  thereupon  severally  de- 
clared their  consent  to  accept  the  office  of  Assistant 
Ministers  upon  the  above  terms. 

"  Upon  the  question  being  put,  it  was  unanimously 
resolved,  that  the  Reverend  Mr.  Benjamin  Moore  be, 
and  he  is  hereby,  elected  and  appointed  an  Assistant 
Minister  to  the  Rector  in  his  parochial  duties,  upon 
the  terms  aforesaid,  and  the  terms  expressed  in  the 
resolution  of  this  Board  of  the  third  day  of  January 
last.  And  upon  the  question  being  put,  it  was  also 
unanimously  resolved,  that  the  Reverend  Mr.  John 
Bowden  be,  and  he  is  also  hereby,  elected  and  ap- 
pointed an  Assistant  Minister  to  the  Rector  in  his 
parochial  duties,  upon  the  like  terms." 

Soon  after  this  the  clergy  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land fell  upon  troublous  times,  which  tried  to  the 
utmost  the  firmness  of  men,  and  often  excruciated 
the  minds  of  the  scrupulous  and  conscientious.  The 
revolutionary  war  broke  out,  threatening  an  utter  dis- 
ruption of  the  ties  which  had  so  long  bound  the 
colonies  and  the  mother  country  together.  The 
relations  of  the  clergy  with  the  latter,  were  perhaps 
of  a  more  close  and  endearing  character  than  those  of 
almost  any  other  class  of  men.  They  were  for  the 
most  part  employed  and  supported  by  the  Society  at 
home,  they  were  nurtured  in  sentiments  of  loyalty, 
and  they  could  not  bring  themselves  to  forsake  at  once, 
and  forever,  the  Ruler  whom  God  in  his  providence 


140  HISTORY  OF 

had  placed  over  them,  and  whom  they  had  so  long 
implored  him  to  prosper  and  bless. 

Whatever  may  be  politically  our  view  of  this  great 
question,  in  which  men  equally  good  so  widely  dif- 
fered, we  must  at  least  respect  the  scruples  which  no 
worldly  considerations  could  overcome,  and  which  led 
to  the  sacrifice  of  home,  comfort,  and  wealth,  for 
conscience'  sake.  With  these  qualifications,  I  trust 
that  I  shall  be  open  to  no  misconstruction,  in  the 
unvarnished  narrative  I  am  about  to  give. 

In  a  letter,  dated  October  31,  1776,  Mr.  Inglis 
assures  the  Society  that  all  their  missionaries,  without 
excepting  one,  in  New-Jersey,  New-York,  Connec- 
ticut, and  so  far  as  he  could  learn  in  the  other  New- 
England  colonies,  had  proved  themselves  faithful,  loyal 
subjects  in  these  trying  times,  and  had  to  the  utmost 
of  their  power  opposed  the  spirit  of  disaffection  which 
had  involved  this  continent  in  the  greatest  calamities  j 
and  although  their  joint  endeavours  could  not  prevent 
the  rebellion,  yet  for  some  time  they  had  considerably 
checked  it.  Amidst  all  the  succeeding  disorder  and 
confusion,  they  went  on  steadily  with  their  duty  in 
their  sermons  $  confining  themselves  to  the  doctrines 
of  the  Gospel,  without  touching  on  politics,  using 
their  influence  to  allay  political  heats  and  cherish  a 
spirit  of  loyalty  among  their  people.  This  conducty 
however  harmless,  gave  great  offence.  They  were 
every  where  threatened,  often  reviled  with  the  most  op- 
probious  language,  and  sometimes  treated  with  brutal 
violence.  He  then  goes  on  with  an  enumeration  of 
the  many  instances  of  insult,   outrage,  and  wrong, 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEAV-YORK.  Ml 

which  had  been  inflicted  on  his  brethren  and  friends  ; 
and  concludes  his  account  with  the  remark,  that  if 
every  case  of  the  kind  could  he  faithfully  collected,  it 
is  probable  that  the  sufferings  of  the  American  clergy 
might  appear  in  many  respects  not  inferior  to  those  of 
the  same  order  in  the  great  rebellion  of  the  last  cen- 
tury, and  that  such  a  work  would  be  no  bad  supple- 
ment to  Walker's  Sufferings  of  the  Clergy. 

The  Declaration  of  Independence   increased  the 
embarrassment  of  the  clergy.     To  officiate  publicly, 
and  not  pray  for  the  king  and  royal  family,  according 
to  the  Liturgy,  was  against  their  duty  and  oath,  as 
well  as  the  dictates  of  their  conscience ;  and  to  use 
the  prayers,   would  have  drawn  on  them  inevitable 
destruction.     The  only  course  which  they  could  pur- 
sue to  avoid  both  evils,  was  to  suspend  the  public 
exercise  of  their  function,  and  shut  up  their  churches. 
This  was  done,  without  any  concert,  throughout  the 
whole  extent  of  the  above-mentioned  provinces.     The 
venerable  Mr.  Beach,  of  Newtown,  in  Connecticut,  is 
alone  to  be  excepted,  who  officiated  as  usual  after 
independency  was  declared  $  and  upon  being  warned 
of  his  danger,  he  said  with  more  firmness  and  spirit 
than  prudence  and  discretion,  that  he   would  do  his 
duty,  and  pray  and  preach  for  the  king  till  they  should 
cut  out  his  tongue.     It  is  a  little  remarkable,  that 
notwithstanding   his   contumacy,   he   was   never  dis- 
turbed. 

Upon  the  departure  of  General  Howe  from  Boston 
to  Halifax,  and  the  taking  possession  of  New-York  by 
the  revolutionary  army,  most  of  the  inhabitants 
removed  into   the   country,    carrying   their   valuable 


142  HISTORY    OF 

effects  with  them.  Mr.  Inglis  conveyed  his  family  to 
a  place  of  safety  up  Hudson's  river.  Dr.  Auchmuty, 
the  Rector,  being  much  indisposed  through  the  spring 
and  summer,  retired  with  his  family  to  Brunswick,  in 
New-Jersey,  and  the  care  of  the  churches  in  his 
absence  of  course  devolved  on  Mr.  Inglis,  as  the  oldest 
assistant ;  a  situation  truly  difficult  and  trying  in  such 
times,  especially  as  the  other  assistants,  though  loyal 
and  worthy,  were  young  and  inexperienced. 

About  the  middle  of  April,  General  Washington 
came  to  town  with  a  large  reinforcement.  Animated 
by  his  presence,  the  revolutionary  committees  very 
much  harrassed  the  loyal  inhabitants  at  New-York 
and  Long  Island.  In  the  latter,  however,  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  of  England  were  the  only  suffer- 
ers, though  many  members  of  the  Dutch  Church 
were  as  active  in  their  opposition  to  the  revolution  as 
themselves. 

Soon  after  Washington's  arrival,  who  was  himself  a 
member  and  communicant  of  the  Church  of  England, 
he  attended  the  Church  5  but  on  the  Sunday  morning, 
before  divine  service  began,  one  of  his  generals  called 
at  the  Rector's  house,  supposing  him  to  be  in  town, 
and  not  finding  him,  left  word  that  he  came  to  inform 
the  Rector  that  General  Washington  would  be  at 
church,  and  would  be  glad  if  the  violent  prayers  for 
the  king  and  royal  family  were  omitted.  The  message 
was  brought  to  Mr.  Inglis,  but  he  paid  no  regard 
to  it. 

On  seeing  that  general  not  long  after,  he  remon- 
strated against  the  unreasonableness  of  his  request, 
which  he  must  have  known  the  clergy  could  not  com- 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  M3 

ply  with  5  and  further  told  him  that  it  was  in  his  power 
to  shut  up  their  churches,  but  by  no  means  in  his 
power  to  make  the  clergy  depart  from  their  duty. 
This  declaration  drew  from  him  an  awkward  apology 
for  his  conduct,  which  there  is  reason  to  believe  was 
not  authorized  by  Washington  himself. 

On  the  17th  of  May,  (the  day  appointed  by  the 
Congress  as  a  day  of  fasting,  prayer,  and  humiliation 
throughout  the  continent,)  at  the  unanimous  request 
of  the  members  of  the  Church,  he  consented  to 
preach.  It  was  exceeding  difficult  for  a  loyal  clergy- 
man to  avoid  danger  on  the  one  hand,  or  a  departure 
from  duty  on  the  other.  But  he  endeavoured  to  shun 
both,  making  peace  and  repentance  his  subject,  and 
explicitly  disclaiming  having  any  thing  to  do  with 
politics. 

Matters  now  became  critical  in  the  highest  degree. 
lie  had  frequently  heard,  as  he  passed  the  streets,  the 
most  indecent  epithets  applied  to  him.  The  most 
violent  threats  were  also  thrown  out  against  him,  in 
case  he  should  pray  for  the  king.  Not  long  after, 
when  he  wras  officiating,  and  had  proceeded  some 
length  in  the  service,  a  company  of  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  armed  men  marched  into  the  Church,  with 
drums  beating  and  fifes  playing,  their  guns  loaded  and 
bayonets  fixed,  as  if  going  to  battle.  The  congregation 
was  thrown  into  the  utmost  terror,  several  women 
fainted,  and  it  was  generally  expected  that  when  the 
collects  for  the  king  and  royal  family  should  be  read, 
he  would  be  fired  at,  as  menaces  to  that  purpose  had 
frequently  been  made.  Mr.  Inglis,  however,  went  on 
with  the  service,  and  the  matter  passed  over  without 


144  HISTORY    OF 

any  accident.  He  was  afterwards  assured  that  some- 
thing hostile  and  violent  was  intended,  but  He  who 
stills  the  raging  of  the  sea  and  the  madness  of  the 
people,  overruled  their  purposes. 

But  it  was  at  length  thought  expedient,  with  the 
unanimous  concurrence  of  such  of  the  Vestry  as  were 
in  town,  to  shut  up  the  churches.  Mr.  Inglis,  how- 
ever, remained  in  the  city  to  baptize  the  children,  visit 
the  sick,  bury  the  dead,  and  afford  what  support  he 
could  to  the  remains  of  his  poor,  dispirited  flock. 

On  the  return  of  the  king's  troops  to  New-York  in 
the  month  of  September,  one  of  the  churches  was 
again  opened,  when  all  the  inhabitants  gladly  attended. 
Joy  was  lightened  up  in  every  countenance  on  the 
restoration  of  public  worship.  Each  congratulated 
himself  and  others  on  the  prospect  of  returning  peace 
and  security  5  when  on  the  following  Saturday,  several 
persons  disaffected,  as  it  was  supposed,  to  the  govern- 
ment, who  had  secreted  themselves  for  the  diabolical 
purpose,  set  fire  to  the  city  in  different  places,  which 
raged  with  the  utmost  fury  until  it  had  consumed 
about  a  thousand  houses,  or  a  fourth  part  of  the 
whole.  In  this  conflagration,  Trinity  Church,  the 
oldest  and  largest  in  the  parish,  with  the  Rector's 
house,  and  the  Charity  School,  were  all  laid  in  ashes.* 

*  A  committee  was  appointed  to  estimate  the  damage  this  corpora- 
tion had  sustained  by  the  late  fire,  who  made  a  report  in  writing,  in 
the  words  following  : 

Pursuant  to  an  order  of  the  Vestry  of  the  1st  of  April  last  to  us 
directed,  to  estimate  the  loss  the  Corporation  of  the  Rector  and  Inhab- 
itants of  the  city  of  New-York,  in  communion  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, as  by  law  established,  have  sustained  by  the  late  fire,  which 


X— - 


£3 


C=3 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK. 


145 


St.  Paul's  Chapel  and  King's  College  would  have 
shared  the  same  fate,  had  not  Mr.  Inglis  been  provi- 
dentially on  the  spot,  who  sent  a  number  of  people  on 
the  roof  with  water  to  protect  them.  Besides  the 
buildings  already  mentioned,  about  two  hun-lred 
houses  which  stood  on  the  church  ground  were  con- 
sumed, so  that  the  clergy  of  this  city  were  the  greatest 
sufferers  by  the  revolution  of  any  on  the  whole  con- 
tinent. 

How  thankful  should  we  be  to  God,  that  in  his  wise 
providence  we  did  not  ourselves  fall  upon  these  evil 
times,  where  from  different  views  of  duty,  persons 
equally  conscientious  differed  so  widely  in  what  they 
deemed  the  performance  of  it  ;  where  the  endearing 
ties  of  nature  and  the  bonds  of  faith  were  rent  asun- 

happened  in  the  city  of  New-York  on  the  21st  day  of  September  last, 
do  report — That  the  said  corporation  have  lost  twenty-two  thousand 
two  hundred  pounds,  in  the  four  following  buildings,  which  were  con- 
sumed by  the  fire  : 

Trinity  Church,  including  the  organ,*    -     -     -     -  £17,500 
Two  Charity  School-houses  and  fencings,  -     -     -        2,000 

Library, '  -     -     -  200 

Rector's  House, -     -        2,500 


£22,200 
Besides  the  loss  to  the  corporation  of  £536  per  annum,  the   annual 
rent  of  246  lots  of  ground,  the   tenants'  buildings  being  all  consumed 
by  the  fire.     In  witness  whereof,  we  have  signed  this  report  the  13th 

day  of  May,  1777. 

Elias  Desbrosses, 
Charles  Shaw, 
Anth.  Vandam, 
William  Laight. 

»  This  cost  JC850  sterling. 


146  HISTORY    OF 

der ;  and  where  those  who  were  formed  to  esteem 
and  love  each  other,  were  separated  by  the  bitterest 
hatred  and  the  deadliest  strife. 

Mr.  Inglis,  in  the  conclusion  of  his  letter  to  the 
Society,  apologizes  for  his  laying  before  them  a  detail 
in  which  he  himself  was  so  much  concerned,  but  he 
claims  no  merit  in  doing  what  he  always  conceived  to 
be  his  duty,  and  with  great  modesty  says  that  any  of 
his  brethren  in  his  situation  would  have  acted  as  he 
did,  and  many  of  them  probably  much  better.  He 
concludes  with  observing  that  the  Church  of  England 
had  as  yet  lost  none  of  its  members,  whose  departure 
from  it  could  be  deemed  a  loss.  He  entertains  no 
doubt  but  that,  with  the  blessing  of  Providence,  his 
Majesty's  arms  will  be  successful.  In  that  case,  if  the 
steps  are  taken  which  reason,  prudence,  and  common 
sense  dictate,  the  Church  will  indubitably  increase, 
and  these  confusions  will  terminate  in  a  large  acces- 
sion to  its  members.  Then  he  says  will  be  the  time 
to  make  that  provision  for  the  American  Church 
which  is  necessary,  and  place  it  on  at  least  an  equal 
footing  with  other  denominations,  by  granting  it  an 
Episcopate,  and  thereby  allowing  it  a  full  toleration. 
If  such  an  opportunity,  he  remarks,  be  let  slip,  such 
another  will  never  offer  again  ;  if  fifty  years  elapse 
without  it,  there  will  be  no  occasion  for  one  after- 
wards, and  to  fix  one  then  will  be  as  impracticable  as 
useless. 

How  much  reason  have  we  to  rejoice  in  this  matter, 
at  the  fallibility  of  the  most  sagacious  in  their  conjec- 
tures with  respect  to  the  future,  and  at  the  mysterious 
workings  of  God's  providence,  in  not  only  disappoint- 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  147 

ing  these  forebodings,  but  in  placing  the  Church  in 
tli  is  land  on  so  firm  a  foundation,  as  that  we  trust  it 
will  never  be  removed. 

The  Society  were  also  favoured  with  another  letter 
from  their  faithful  and  much  esteemed  correspondent, 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Auchmuty,  dated  New- York,  November 
20,  1770,  in  which  he  acquaints  them,  that  upon  his 
arrival  at  that  once  delightful,  but  now  unhappy  city, 
he  found  every  thing  in  great  confusion.  Upon 
searching  the  rubbish  of  his  late  venerable  church, 
and  his  large  and  elegant  house,  he  could  find  only 
a  very  few  trifles,  of  little  or  no  value,  except  the 
Church  pfate  and  his  own.  Providence  having  pre- 
served him  two  chapels,  he  begins  to  have  divine 
service  again  regularly,  after  a  suspension  of  near  three 
months,  and  his  people  begin  to  flock  in  so  that  they 
will  soon  be  filled.  His  wife  and  daughters  are  still 
in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and  he  knows  not  when 
he  shall  be  able  to  obtain  their  freedom.  The  losses 
he  hath  himself  sustained  by  fire  and  cruel  devasta- 
tions, amount  already  to  £2,500  sterling ;  and  to  the 
loss  sustained  by  his  church  to  the  amount  of  £25,000 
sterling,  must  be  added  also  that  of  the  quit  rents 
which  the  tenants,  as  they  are  burnt  out,  are  unable 
to  pay. 

In  the  midst  of  these  troubles  the  Rev.  Dr.  Auch- 
muty, the  Rector  of  the  Church,  was  taken  to  his 
rest.  The  following  extract  from  a  sermon,  preached 
in  the  city  of  New-York,  March  9th,  1777,  on  occasion 
of  his  death,  by  the  Rev.  Charles  Inglis,  A.  M.,  after- 
wards Dr.  Inglis,  Bishop  of  Nova  Scotia,  presents  his 
character  in  an  engaging  light : 


148  HISTORY    OF 

"  By  the  death  of  our  worthy  and  excellent  Rector, 
the  public  has  lost  an  useful  member,  you  a  faithful 
pastor,  and  I  a  sincere  friend. 

"  My  intimacy  and  connection  with  him  for  nearly 
twelve  years,  enabled  me  to  know  him  well  j  and  I 
can  truly  say,  I  scarcely  ever  knew  a  man  possessed 
of  a  more  humane,  compassionate,  or  benevolent 
heart.  Often  have  I  seen  him  melt  into  tears  at  the 
sight  of  distress  in  others  $  and  the  distressed  never 
sought  his  aid  in  vain.  Liberal  and  generous  in  his 
disposition,  he  seemed  happy  when  alleviating  afflic- 
tion, or  when  employed  in  some  office  of  benevolence 
or  friendship. 

"  For  nearly  thirty  years  you  have  enjoyed  his  min- 
istry 5  indeed,  ever  since  he  entered  that  sacred  office 
till  the  day  of  his  death  $  and  the  respect  showed  to 
him,  and  distinction  conferred  on  him,  as  well  as  the 
nourishing  state  of  these  congregations  when  our 
present  troubles  broke  out,  are  incontestible  proofs  of 
the  fidelity  and  assiduity  with  which  he  discharged 
the  duties  of  his  station.  Numbers,  who  I  trust  are 
now  in  glory,  and  many  of  you  who  are  still  living, 
will,  I  hope,  be  seals  of  his  ministry,  his  crown  of 
rejoicing  in  the  day  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 

"  Firmly  and  conscientiously  attached  to  the  doc- 
trines and  discipline  of  the  Church  of  England,  he  was 
indefatigable  in  promoting  her  interests. 

"  Christianity  never  appears  more  amiable  and 
winning,  than  when  accompanied  by  that  easy  tem- 
pered cheerfulness,  which  rectitude  and  benevolence 
of  heart  naturally  inspire.  In  this  he  greatly  excelled. 
Such  a  temper  and  disposition  endeared  him  to  his 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  149 

intimate  acquaintances,  and  enabled  him  to  shine  in 
the  tender  connections  of  social  life.  He  was  indeed 
a  sincere,  warm  friend,  a  most  affectionate  husband 
and  father. 

"  His  ill  state  of  health  obliged  him  to  reside  a  con- 
siderable part  of  last  summer  in  the  country.  On  his 
return  to  the  city,  he  promised  himself  some  repose 
and  satisfaction  with  his  family  and  his  friends.  But5 
alas !  those  hopes  were  soon,  too  soon,  disappointed. 

tt  Only  a  few  months  after,  in  this  Church,*  which 
was  built  under  his  inspection,  which  he  consecrated 
to  the  service  of  Almighty  God,  and  which  so  lately 
received  his  remains $  in  this  Church,  I  say,  he 
preached  his  last  sermon  two  days  before  the  disorder 
which  carried  him  off,  seized  him. 

"  On  his  death-bed,  he  behaved  with  all  the  forti- 
tude, patience,  and  resignation  of  a  Christian  j  such 
as  the  certain  hope  of  immortal  life,  and  true  faith  in 
the  Redeemer,  naturally  inspire.  His  understanding 
was  clear,  and  his  senses  perfect  to  the  last  5  and  he 
joined  fervently  in  prayer  not  many  minutes  before  he 
expired  5  he  died  without  a  struggle  or  a  groan.t 

On  the  6th  of  October,  1776,  Mr.  Hildreth  also 
writes  to  the  Society,  that  from  the  beginning  of  the 
preceding  July  his  scholars  had  gradually  dwindled  to 
a  small  number  $  that  himself  and  most  of  the  friends 
of  government  had  been  obliged  to  leave  New-York 
to  avoid  being  sent  prisoners  to  New-England,  and 
upon  his  return  a  few  days  after  the  King's  troops 

¥  St.  Paul's  Chapel.  f  He  died  March  4th,  1777. 


150  HISTORY   OF 

had  taken  possession  of  the  city,  he  found  it  in  flames. 
He  was  now  collecting  his  poor  scholars  together, 
and  as  the  inhabitants  were  then  daily  coming  in,  he 
expected  in  a  short  time  to  have  his  usual  number. 

In  the  following  year  the  Society  were  informed  by 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Inglis,  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Hildreth, 
and  of  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Amos  Bull,  a  person 
of  good  character  and  principles,  and  in  all  respects 
well  qualified  to  succeed  him. 

He  likewise  states  in  another  letter,  that  in  addition 
to  the  great  loss  sustained  by  Trinity  Church  in  the. 
late  fire,  he  had  suffered  a  severe  private  loss  at  King- 
ston, through  the  instrumentality  of  his  friends.  A 
body  of  British  troops  being  fired  at  in  going  up 
Hudson's  river,  and  thereby  provoked  to  burn  the 
town,  Dr.  Inglis  lost  houses  to  the  value  of  £1,100. 

On  the  20th  of  March,  1777,  Mr.  Inglis  was  una- 
nimously elected  as  Rector  of  the  parish,  in  the  place 
of  Dr.  Auchmuty. 

"Mr.  Desbrosses  acquainted  the  Board  that  he, 
together  with  several  other  gentlemen  of  the  Vestry, 
had  a  few  days  since  wrote  a  letter  to  the  Secretary 
of  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in 
Foreign  Parts,  and  another  to  the  Bishop  of  London, 
informing  them  of  the  death  of  the  Reverend  Doctor 
Auchmuty,  and  of  the  appointment  of  the  Reverend 
Mr.  Charles  Inglis  to  succeed  him  as  Rector  of  Trin- 
ity Church,  copys  of  which  he  laid  before  the  Board, 
which  being  read  and  approved  of,  were  ordered  to 
be  entered  in  the  minutes,  and  are  in  the  words  follow- 
ing, to  wit : 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  151 

"  Revkrrnd  Sin  : 

"The  freedom  of  this   address   we   hope   the 
Honorable  Society  will  readily  excuse,  as  it  is  to  dis- 
charge a  duty  incumbent  on  the  Church  Wardens  and 
Vestry  of  Trinity  Church  in  this  city,  to  inform  your 
Venerable  Body  of  the  loss  we  have  sustained  by  the 
death  of  our  late  worthy  Rector,  Doctor  Auchmuty, 
a  gentleman  justly  esteemed  for  his  humane,  benevo- 
lent disposition,  with  many  other  amiable  qualities, 
which  we  shall  omit  to  enumerate  in  the  compass  of 
a  letter,  as  this  just  tribute  to  his  memory  is  already 
performed  by  a  more  able  pen,  and  inserted  in  the 
public  prints,  which  we  make  no  doubt  are  come  to 
your   hands.      As   soon   as   decency   permitted,   the 
Church   Wardens   and   a    majority    of   the   Vestry, 
agreeable  to  their  charter,  from  the  experience  they 
have  had  for  several  years  of  the  merit  of  the  Rev- 
erend Charles  Inglis,  unanimously  chose  him  to  suc- 
ceed Doctor  Auchmuty,  as  a  clergyman  universally 
esteemed,  as   well   for    his   exemplary  life,  as  other 
abilities  requisite  to  fill  that  public  and  important  sta- 
tion.    Wc  are  of  opinion,  had  he  not  been  in  the  line 
of  succession  as  Assistant  Minister  to  Doctor  Auch- 
muty, we  could  not  have  made  a  better  choice.     It 
will  greatly  add  to  our  satisfaction,  to  be  informed 
that  it  meets  with  the  respectable  approbation  of  your 
Venerable    Society.      The    presentation    was   made 
to  his  Excellency  Gov.  Tryon,  who  readily  confirmed 
our  choice  by  his  letters  of  admission,  institution,  and 
mandate  for  induction,  which  was  performed  agree- 
able to  the  Canon  and  Statute  Laws.     We  should  be 
chargeable  with  ingratitude   were   we  to  omit   this 


152  HISTORY    OF 

favourable  opportunity  of  returning  our  thanks  to 
your  Honorable  Society  for  your  paternal  attention  to 
our  church,  and  we  humbly  pray  for  a  continuance, 
as  we  shall  be  happy  to  succeed  in  our  filial  endeav- 
ours to  merit  it. 

"  We  are,  with  great  esteem,  Reverend  Sir,  your 
most  obedient  servants. 

"  New-York,  27th  March,  1777." 

The  presentation  of  Mr.  Inglis  to  his  Excellency 
Governor  Tryon,  the  letters  of  admission,  institution, 
and  mandate  of  induction,  were  all  in  the  usual  form, 
but  there  was  one  singular  circumstance  attending  his 
induction.  After  having  taken  the  oaths,  and  repeated 
and  subscribed  the  declaration  enjoined  by  law,  and  also 
declared  his  unfeigned  assent  and  consent  to  the  Thirty- 
nine  Articles,  and  subscribed  his  name  thereunto,  Mr. 
Inglis  was  conducted  to  Trinity  Church,  and  inducted 
into  his  Church  by  Elias  Desbrosses,  Esq.,  one  of  the 
Churchwardens,  (and  by  the  Vestrymen  of  the  said 
Church,)  by  placing  his  hand  on  the  wall  of  the  said 
Church*  the  same  being  then  a  ruin. 

"  Mr.  Inglis  laid  before  the  Board  a  letter  from  the 
present  Bishop  of  London,  directed  to  the  Vestry  of 
Trinity  Church,  New-York,  in  answer  to  a  letter  from 
this  corporation  to  the  late  Bishop  of  London,  de- 
ceased, which  being  read,  was  ordered  to  be  entered 
on  the  minutes,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

"  Gextleme?;  : 

"  It  gives  me  great  pain  to  send,  as  it  will  you  to 
receive,  this  answer  to  your  letter  to  the  late  Bishop 
of  London  from  another  and  far  inferior  hand.     His 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  153 

Majesty  lias  been  pleased  to  do  me  the  great  honor  of 
appointing  me  to  supply  his  place,  which  I  can  very 
readily  do,  at  least  in  this  instance,  when  I  highly 
applaud,  as  I  am  sure  he  would  have  done,  your 
choice  of  the  Reverend  Mr.  Charles  Inglis  to  succeed 
the  late  worthy  Dr.  Auchmuty  in  the  Rectory  of 
Trinity  Church,  New-York^  by  which  choice  you 
have  done  yourselves  great  honour,  and  most  effec- 
tually provided  for  the  welfare  and  interest  of  your 
Church  and  Congregation  5  as  I  know  Mr.  Inglis  to 
\)o  a  person  of  the  most  eminent  abilities,  of  great 
judgment,  integrity,  and  piety,  of  unshaken  loyalty, 
and  firm  perseverance  in  his  duty,  as  he  has  fully 
shown  by  his  late  exemplary  behaviour  in  the  severest 
trials,  by  which  he  has  merited  the  highest  honours 
which  his  country  has  to  bestow  upon  him.  Your 
grateful  acknowledgments  of  my  late  excellent  pre- 
decessor's services,  would  have  been  highly  agreeable 
to  him :  be  assured  that  it  will  be  my  ambition  to 
follow  him  in  this,  as  well  as  every  other  part  of  the 
great  and  amiable  example  which  he  jias  left  to  his 
successors. 

"J  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  truth  and 
regard,  Gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  and  most 
faithful  humble  serv't, 

"  R.  London. 

"  Londox,  June  4th,  1777." 

"  On  the  1st  of  April,  1777,  the  Rector  communi- 
cated to  the  Board  a  letter  to  himself  from  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Bowden,  desiring  to  resign  his  office  as  Assistant 
Minister,  for  the  reasons  therein  given,  which  being 
10 


154  HISTORY    OF 

read,  was  ordered  to  be  filed  and  entered  on  the  min- 
utes, and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 
"  Dear  Sir  : 

"  I  have  been  for  some  time  in  doubt,  whether  I 
should  return  to  New-York  or  not.     I  have  at  length 
determined  not  to  return.     Before  Doctor  Auchmuty's 
death  I  had  two  objections.     The  one — there  was  no 
prospect  of  a  provision  5  the  other — a  weak,  broken 
voice,  and  a  tender  habit  of  body.     The  former  objec- 
tion may  probably  be  removed  by  the  Doctor's  death, 
but  the  latter  continues  in  full  force,  and  alone  deter- 
mines me  to  quit  the  city.     I  am  very  sorry  to  be 
under  this  necessity,  as  I  shall  be  deprived  of  the 
society  of  my  respected  colleagues,  of  an  agreeable 
circle  of   acquaintance,    and   many    other   blessings. 
But  duty  to  myself,   to  my  family,  and  my  friends, 
must  be  regarded.     Be  pleased,  sir,  to  communicate 
my  resolution  to  the  Church  Wardens  and  Vestry  at 
their  next  meeting,  and  assure  them  that  it  is  with  the 
greatest  regret  I  withdraw  my  assistance  from  the 
Church,  at  this  time  of  distress,  and  that  nothing  but 
inability   could  have   induced  me.     I  must  beg,  that 
you  will  excuse  me    from   fulfilling   my  promise    to 
preach  next  Sunday  j  as  I  have  resolved  to  quit  the 
city,  it  will  put  me  to  a  good  deal  of  inconvenience 
to  attend. 

"  I  am,  Sir,  with  respect  and  esteem,  your  obed't 
humble  serv't,  "John  Bowden. 

"  Jamaica,  March  14th." 

"The  Rev.  Dr.  Bowden   was   the   eldest   son  of 
Thomas  Bowden,  Esq.,  an  officer  in  his  Britannic 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  155 

Majesty's  46th  Regiment  of  Foot.  This  regiment 
was  stationed  in  Ireland  at  the  time  of  his  birth, 
whicli  was  in  January,  1751.  His  father  came  with 
his  regiment  to  America  upon  the  breaking  out  of  the 
French  War,  and  he  soon  after  followed  him,  under 
the  charge  of  a  clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England. 

"  On  his  arrival  he  studied  for,  and  was  entered  at 
Princeton  College,  where  he  remained  but  two  years  ; 
his  father  returning  with  his  regiment  to  Ireland,  he 
went  with  him.  After  remaining  some  time  there, 
he  came  to  America,  in  1770,  and  entered  King's 
(now  Columbia)  College,  where  he  graduated  in  1772. 
Soon  after  he  left  college  he  commenced  the  study  of 
Divinity,  and  went  home  to  England,  where  he  was 
ordained  Deacon  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Keppel,  Bishop 
of  Exeter,  in  1774.  He  was  ordained  Priest  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Terrick,  Bishop  of  London. 

"In  the  summer  of  1774  he  returned  to  New-York, 
where  he  was  settled  as  an  Assistant  Minister  in  Trin- 
ity Church,  in  conjunction  with  the  late  Bishop  Moore. 
Soon  after  the  Revolutionary  War  broke  out,  the 
churches  were  shut  up,  in  expectation  that  the  British 
troops  would  take  possession  of  the  city,  and  he  retired 
to  Norwalk,  in  Connecticut.  When  the  British  troops 
took  possession  of  Long  Island  and  New-York,  he 
returned  ,*  but  on  account  of  the  weakness  of  his 
voice,  he  declined  preaching  in  Trinity  Church,  and 
retired  to  Jamaica,  on  Long  Island,  where  he  occa- 
sionally assisted  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bloomer,  Rector  of 
that  parish.  Upon  the  evacuation  of  this  city  he 
went  to  Norwalk,  and  took  charge  of  the  church  in 
December,  1784.     He  continued  there  until  October, 


156  HISTORY    OF 

1789,  when  owing  to  the  weak  state  of  his  lungs, 
he  accepted  an  invitation  to  take  charge  of  the  church 
at  St.  Croix,  in  the  West  Indies.  After  remaining  in 
that  Island  about  two  years  he  found  that  his  voice 
was  no  better,  and  that  the  climate  had  debilitated  and 
weakened  his  constitution,  he  was  therefore  under  the " 
painful  necessity  of  relinquishing  preaching  altogether. 
He  returned  to  the  United  States,  and  settled  at 
Stratford,  in  Connecticut.  After  residing  there  some 
time,  he  took  charge  of  the  Episcopal  Academy  in 
Cheshire,  Connecticut,  in  1796,  where  he  continued 
until  he  was  appointed,  in  the  year  1805,  Professor  of 
Moral  Philosophy  and  Belles  Lettres  in  Columbia  Col- 
lege. In  this  situation  he  remained,  discharging  its 
duties  with  exemplary  fidelity,  until  the  summer  of 
1817,  when  his  declining  health  induced  him  to  take 
a  journey  to  Ballston  Springs,  where  he  departed  this 
life,  July  31st,  1817. 

"  Dr.  Bowdcn  was  distinguished  as  an  able  advocate 
and  defender  of  the  Church  \  for  which  duties  he  was 
eminently  qualified  by  his  extensive  acquirements  in 
theology,  and  by  his  powers  of  clear  and  forcible  rea- 
soning. He  considered  the  Church  of  which  he  was 
a  minister,  as  pure  in  her  doctrine,  apostolic  in  her 
ministry,  and  primitive  and  evangelical  in  her  wor- 
ship 5  and  therefore  she  possessed  his  warmest  attach- 
ment, and  her  prosperity  was  the  object  that  occupied 
his  labours  and  his  prayers.  Having  derived  his  opin- 
ions on  the  subject  of  the  constitution  of  the  Christian 
Church  from  the  writings  of  those  early  ages,  when, 
under  the  ministrations  and  government  of  diocesan 
bishops,  her  visible  unitv  was  preserved,  he  opposed 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  157 

with  equal  zeal  and  ability  the  encroachments  of 
popery  on  primitive  episcopacy,  and  those  separations 
from  the  orders  of  the  ministry,  constituted  by  Christ 
and  his  apostles,  by  which  Protestants  are  rent  into 
sects  almost  without  number.  He  advocated  and  de- 
fended episcopacy,  as  that  apostolic  and  primitive  bond 
of  visible  unity,  by  which  alone  Christians  can  main- 
tain the  unity  of  the  spirit.  He  was,  indeed,  a 
Churchman  of  the  old  school,  whose  leaders  were 
distinguished  by  the  union  in  their  writings  of  evan- 
gelical truth  with  apostolic  order,  and  in  their  lives, 
of  fervent  piety  with  deep  humility.  After  the  model 
of  these  masters  of  theology,  he  enforced  the  peculiar 
truths  of  the  Gospel,  unmixed  with  the  dangerous 
speculations  of  Calvinism,  which  he  exposed  in  many 
of  his  writings  with  great  keenness  and  strength  of 
argument;  and  while  he  strenuously  insisted  on  salva- 
tion through  the  merits  of  the  Redeemer  and  the  grace 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  he  checked  the  excesses  of  enthusi- 
asm and  schism  by  maintaining  that  the  merits  and 
grace  of  Christ  are  applied  to  the  soul  of  the  penitent 
believer  in  union  with  the  Church,  for  which  the  Re- 
deemer shed  his  blood,  and  which  the  Holy  Spirit 
animates,  by  the  regular  and  devout  participation  of 
its  duly  administered  ordinances.  His  sermons  wer§ 
remarkable  for  weight  of  matter,  and  great  simplicity 
and  conciseness  of  style;  and,  before  his  voice  failed 
him,  his  delivery  was  forcible  and  interesting.  Sim- 
plicity and  dignity  were  those  traits  of  his  character 
which  distinguished  and  adorned  all  his  deportment 
and  actions,  and  rendered  impressive  and  interesting 
all  his  conduct  as  a  Christian  and  a  man.     Unaffected 


158  HISTORY    OF 

in  his  piety,  sincere  and  disinterested  in  his  friend- 
ships, amiable  and  benevolent  in  social  intercourse,  he 
was  beloved  and  revered  wherever  he  was  known."  * 

I  became  personally  acquainted  with  Dr.  Bowden 
at  my  entrance  into  Columbia  College,  in  1806,  where 
he  was  then  acting  as  Professor  of  Rhetoric  and  Moral 
Philosophy  ;  and  I  was  honoured  with  his  friendship 
in  later  life.  In  the  long  lapse  of  time  between  that 
period  and  the  present,  from  my  public  position,  and 
from  travelling  extensively  both  at  home  and  abroad, 
I  have  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  society  in  most  of 
its  forms  5  and  I  can  truly  say,  that  while  in  all  my 
intercourse  with  it  I  have  rarely  seen  one  who  was  a 
greater  ornament  to  his  profession,  I  have  never  met 
with  a  more  thorough-bred  gentleman.  In  college 
even,  where  the  highest  claims  to  respect  are  often  dis- 
regarded, if  accompanied  with  the  slightest  peculiarity 
of  manners  ;  by  the  just  consideration  which  he  had 
for  others,  and  the  quiet  dignity  of  his  deportment,  he 
gained  the  universal  esteem  and  admiration  of  the 
students.  He  was  a  teacher  without  pedantry,  who 
united  the  accomplishments  of  the  scholar  with  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  world  $  giving  no  occasion 
for  ridicule  to  the  most  frivolous,  and  inspiring  the 
more  sedate  with  reverence  and  love. 

Such  was  the  impression  which  he  made  on  others  as 
well  as  myself,  in  the  thoughtless  season  of  youth.  A 
short  time  after,  when  from  my  settlement  in  the  parish 
where  fivc-and-thirty  years  before  he  had  been  a  min- 
ister, and  where  he  was  then  a  worshipper,  I  was 

*  Christian  Journal,  vol.  2,  pp.  1,  2. 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  159 

brought  into  new  relations  with  him  in  the  endearing 
intercourse  of  social  life.  On  every  occasion  where 
his  brethren  met  together,  he  was  a  welcome  and  an 
honoured  guest.  Though  habitually  grave  in  his  air 
and  demeanor,  he  had  nevertheless  an  inward  cheer- 
fulness of  spirit,  which  always  promoted  mirth  and 
good  humour  in  others.  He  had  seen  much  of  the 
world,  and  been  a  nice  observer  of  it.  He  had  there- 
fore gathered  up  an  inexhaustible  fund  of  anecdotes, 
which  he  brought  out  only  on  the  most  appropriate 
occasions,  and  related  in  the  happiest  manner  \  each  one 
of  which  had  all  the  freshness  of  novelty,  as  none  was 
ever  marred  by  repetition. 

I  have  merely  added  these  touches  of  personal 
character  to  heighten  the  effect  of  a  picture,  which 
all  who  have  known  him  will  still  consider  to  be  very 
imperfectly  drawn.* 


*  "  The  following  is  a  list  of  his  writings  : 

"1.  A  Letter  from  John  Bowden,  A.M.,  Rector  of  St.  Paul's 
Church,  Norwallv,  to  the  Rev.  Ezra  Stiles,  D.D.  LL.D.,  President  of 
Yale  College  ;  occasioned  by  some  passages  concerning  Church 
Government,  in  an  Ordination  Sermon,  preached  at  New-London, 
May  17th,  17H7. 

"  -1.  A  second  Letter  from  John  Bowden,  A.M.,  Rector  of  St. 
Paul's  Church,  Norwalk,  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Stiles,  President  of  Yale 
College.  In  this  letter  the  Rev.  Dr.  Chaunccy's  complete  view  of 
Episcopacy  until  the  close  of  the  second  century  is  particularly  con- 
sidered, and  some  remarks  arc  made  upon  a  few  passages  of  Dr. 
3  Election  Sermon. 

"  3.  A  Letter  from  a  Weaver  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sherman,  occasioned 
by  a  publication  of  his  in  the  Fairfield  Gazette,  for  the  purpose  of 
'Pinching  the  Episcopalian  Clergy  with  the  Truth.' 

"  4.  An  Address  from  John  Bowden,  A.M.,  to  the  Members  of  tho 


160  HISTORY  OF 

"  The  Rev.  Dr.  Inglis  having  communicated  to  this 
Board  that  his  private  affairs  rendered  it  necessary  for 
him  to  remove  from  this  city,  and  he  being  desirous  to 
resign  the  Rectory  of  the  Parish  of  Trinity  Church 
on  that  account,  tendered  to  the  corporation  such  his 
resignation,  m  the  words  following : 

"  In  the  name  of  God,  Amen.  I,  Charles  Inglis, 
Doctor  of  Divinity,  Rector  of  the  Parish  of  Trinity 
Church,  in  the  city  of  New- York,  before  you  the  Church 
Wardens  and  Vestrymen  of  the  said  Church,  and 
in  the  presence  of  credible  witnesses  here  present,  for 
certain  just  and  lawful  causes,  me  and  my  mind  here- 


Episcopal  Church  in  Stratford  :  to  which  is  added  a  letter  to  the  Rev. 
Mr.  James  Sayre. 

"  5.  Two  Letters  to  the  Editor  of  the  Christian's  Magazine  :  by  a 
Churchman. 

"  6.  A  Letter  from  a  Churchman  to  his  friend  in  New-Haven  ; 
containing  a  few  strictures  on  a  pamphlet  signed  J.  R.  O. 

"  7.  Some  Remarks  in  favor  of  the  Division  of  the  Ceneral  Con- 
vention of  the  Church  into  two  Houses  ;  the  House  of  Bishops,  and 
the  House  of  Lay-Deputies  :  the  one  having  a  negative  on  the 
other. 

"  8.  A  full  length  portrait  of  Calvinism. 

"  9.  The  Essentials  of  Ordination. 

"  10.  The  Apostolic  Origin  of  Episcopacy  Asserted,  in  a  seri  of 
letters,  addressed  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Miller,  cne  of  the  Pastors  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  Churches  in  the  city  of  New-York. 

"11.  A  scries  of  letters  addressed  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Miller,  in 
answer  to  his  continuation  of  letters  concerning  the  constitution  and 
order  of  the  Christian  Ministry. 

"  12.  Observations,  by  a  Protestant,  on  a  Profession  of  Catholic 
Faith  by  a  Clergyman  of  Baltimore,  and  with  the  authority  of  the 
Right  Rev.  Bishop  Carroll."* 

*  Christian  Journal,  vol.  2,  p.  3. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW- YORK.  161 

unto  specially  moving,  without  compulsion,  fear,  fraud, 
or  deceit,  do  purely,  simply,  and  absolutely  resign,  and 
give  up  the  said  Rectory  of  the  Parish  of  Trinity 
Church,  and  my  office  of  Rector  in  the  said  Corpo- 
ration of  the  Rector  and  inhabitants  of  the  city  of 
New-York  in  communion  with  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, as  by  law  established,  by  whatsoever  name  the 
said  Rectory  may  be  most  properly  known  and  distin- 
guished, and  also  the  said  Church,  with  all  the  rights, 
members,  and  appurtenances,  into  the  hands  of  you 
the  said  Church  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  the  patrons 
thereof,  with  all  my  right,  title,  and  possession  of,  in, 
and  to  the  same,  I  quit,  cede,  and  renounce  them, 
and  expressly  recede  from  them  by  these  presents. 

"  In  witness  whereof,  I,  the  said  Charles  Inglis, 
have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal,  the  first  day  of 
November,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  eighty-three. 

"  Charles  Inglis. 

"  Sealed  and  delivered  in  the  presence  of  us, 

"John  Alsop, 
"George  Stanton." 

"  The  corporation  do  therefore  accept  of  the  resig- 
nation of  the  said  Doctor  Charles  Inglis,*  and  the 
Rectory  thereby  becoming  vacant,  this  corporation 
came  into  a  resolution  for  a  choice  of  a  successor, 
when  it  was  unanimously  resolved  that  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Benj.  Moore  be,  and  he  is,  hereby  elected  and  chosen 
to  succeed  the  said  Reverend  Doctor  Inalis  as  Rector 
of  Trinity  Church,  in  the  parish  aforesaid. 

"  Resolved,  That  Messrs. wait  on  Mr.  Moore, 


162 


HISTORY   or 


and  acquaint  him  with  the  above  resolution,  and  know 
if  he  will  accept  of  the  appointment,  which  they 
accordingly'  did  3  and  Mr.  Moore  being  introduced, 
and  declaring  his  assent  to  accept  the  said  appointment, 
it  was  therefore  further  resolved,  that  the  said  Mr. 
Moore  be  presented  in  a  convenient  time  to  his  Excel- 
lency Governour  George  Clinton,  Governour  of  the 
State  of  New-York,  for  his  approbation." 

The  presentation  was  prepared  for  that  purpose,  but 
whether  it  was  actually  offered  to  the  Governor  or 
not,  is  uncertain.  It  was  followed,  however,  by  no 
further  action  at  the  time  on  the  part  of  the  Vestry, 
and  Mr.  Moore  did  not  in  fact  formally  receive  the 
office  of  Rector  until  seventeen  years  afterwards. 

"  By  an  Act  of  the  Legislature  of  the  People  of 
the  State  of  New-York,  passed  the  seventeenth  day 
of  April,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-four, 
entitled  c  An  act  for  making  such  alterations  in  the 
Charter  of  the  Corporation  of  Trinity  Church,  so  as 
to  render  it  more  conformable  to  the  Constitution  of 
the  State  5'  the  following  gentlemen  were  appointed 
Church  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  of  the  said  Church : 


Robert  R.  Livingston, 
James  Duane, 


Church  Wardens. 


Richard  Morris, 
Francis  Lewis, 
Lewis  Morris, 
Isaac  Sears, 
William  Duer, 
William  Bedlow, 
Daniel  Dunscomb, 
Anthony  Lispenard, 
Thomas  Tillotson, 
John  Stevens,  J 


Vestrymen. 


Marinus  Willet, 
Robert  Troup, 
Joshua  Sands, 
Anthony  Griffiths, 
Christopher  Miller, 
Thomas  Tucker, 
Hercules  Mulligan, 
Thomas  Grennell, 
William  Mercier, 
John  Rutherfurd, 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  163 

"  Tlic  Trustees  entrusted  with  the  care  of  the  tem- 
poralities of  Trinity  Church,  hy  the  Council  appointed 
by  the  Act  of  the  Legislature  for  the  temporary 
government  of  the  southern  parts  of  the  State,  wher- 
ever the  enemy  shall  abandon  or  be  dispossessed  of 
the  same ;  informed  the  Board,  that  agreeable  to  the 
desire  of  the  Whig  Episcopalians,  they  had  requested 
the  attendance  of  the  Reverend  Samuel  Provoost  in 
town,  in  order  to  perform  Divine  service  at  St. 
George's  and  St.  Paul's  Chapels,  that  Mr.  Provoost 
had  accordingly  arrived  in  town  on  the  second  day  of 
February  last,  and  that  he  had  very  obligingly  offici- 
ated from  the  day  of  his  arrival  to  the  present  time. 

"  Resolved,  unanimously,  That  agreeable  to  powers 
vested  in  the  Church  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  of 
Trinity  Church,  by  the  act  of  the  Legislature  for 
making  such  alterations  in  the  Charter  of  the  Corpo- 
ration of  Trinity  Church,  as  to  render  it  more  con- 
formable to  the  Constitution  of  this  State,*  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Provoost  be  called  and  inducted  to  the 
Rectory  of  Trinity  Church,  in  the  city  of  New-York. 

"  Resolved,  That  Mr.  Duane,  Mr.  Lewis,  and  Mr. 
Morris,  be  a  committee  to  wait  on  Mr.  Provoost,  and 
to  inform  him  of  his  call  and  appointment,  and  request 
his  acceptance  thereof." 

"  Mr.  Duane,  from  the  committee  appointed  to  wait 
on  Mr.  Provoost,  informed  the  Board  that  they  had 
accordingly  waited  on,  and  informed  him  that  the 
Church  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  had  unanimously 
resolved  to  call  and  induct  him  to  the  Rectory  of 
Trinity  Church,  and  that  he  had  expressed  his  com- 
pliance with  such  request.     Whereupon  Mr.  Provoost 


164  HISTORY    OF 

was  introduced  to  the  Board,  and  a  call  and  induction 
being  prepared  for  the  purpose,  it  was  signed  by  the 
members  of  the  Corporation  and  presented  to  Mr. 
Provoost,  and  is  in  the  words  following : 

"  To  all  people  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come 
or  concern :  We,  the  Church  Wardens  and  Vestry- 
men of  the  Corporation  of  the  Rector  and  Inhabitants 
of  the  city  of  New-York,  in  communion  of  the  Church 
of  England,  as  by  law  established,  do  send  greeting : 
Whereas  the  office  of  Rector  of  the  Corporation  of 
the  Rector  and  Inhabitants  of  the  city  of  New-York, 
in  communion  of  the  Church  of  England,  became 
vacant,  and  the  Reverend  Mr.  Samuel  Provoost  hath 
some  time  since,  on  the  invitation  of  the  Trustees 
appointed  for  the  care  of  the  temporalities  of  the 
said  Church  by  the  late  Council  for  the  temporary 
Government  of  the  Southern  district  of  this  State, 
and  other  members  of  the  said  Church  associated 
with  them,  taken  the  charge  and  care  of  the  Episco- 
pal Church  in  the  said  city,  belonging  to  the  said 
corporation,  on  an  assurance  that  he  should  be  with 
due  solemnity  invested  with  the  said  office  of  Rec- 
tor thereof,  as  soon  as  it  could  be  done  according  to 
law  \  And  whereas  by  virtue  of  an  Act,  entitled  an 
Act  for  making  such  alterations  in  the  Charter  of  the 
Corporation  of  Trinity  Church,  as  to  render  it  more 
conformable  to  the  Constitution  of  the  State,  passed 
the  seventeenth  day  of  April,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-four ;  we,  the 
Church  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  therein  named,  and 
who  have  subscribed  and  sealed  these  presents,  are 
duly  authorized  to  call  and  induct  a  Rector  of  the 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  165 

said  Corporation  and  Church ;  And  we,  having  a  high 
sense  of  the  learning,  piety,  and  integrity  of  the  said 
Reverend  Samuel  Provoost,  be  it  therefore  known, 
that  the  said  Church  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  have 
called  and  inducted,  and  by  these  presents  do  call  and 
induct,  the  said  Reverend  Samuel  Provoost  to  be 
Rector  of  the  said  Corporation,  to  hold,  exercise,  and 
enjoy  the  said  office  of  Rector  unto  him  the  said 
Reverend  Samuel  Provoost,  with  all  the  profits  and 
emoluments  thereunto  belonging,  as  fully  and  effectu- 
ally as  any  Rector  of  the  said  Corporation  may,  can, 
or  ought  to  hold  the  same,  by  virtue  of  the  said  Act 
and  Charter  of  the  said  Corporation. 

"  In  witness  whereof,  the  said  Church  Wardens  and 
Vestrymen  have  hereunto  set  their  hands  and  seals, 
the  twenty-second  day  of  April,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-four, 
and  of  the  Independence  of  this  State  the  eighth. 
James  Duane,  Church  Warden. 

Francis  Lewis, 
William  Mercier, 
Thomas  Grennell, 
Daniel  Dunscomb, 
Lewis  Morris, 
Isaac  Sears, 
Christopher  Miller, 
William  Duer,  &c.  &c, 
Vestrymen? 


CHAPTER   IV. 

"  A  committee  was  appointed  on  the  27th  of  May 
to  ascertain  the  salary  and  emoluments  proper  to  be 
allowed  the  Rector  in  future,  and  to  report  the  same 
for  approbation  or  amendment,  which  committee,  at 
a  subsequent  meeting,  begged  leave  to  report : 

"  That  from  an  account  exhibited  by  the  Rector 
to  this  committee,  the  sum  total  of  the  perquisites  and 
emoluments  which  he  has  received  between  the  second 
day  of  February  last  and  the  first  day  of  June  instant, 
amount  only  to  £23  12s.  $  that  it  is  therefore  the 
opinion  of  the  committee,  that  it  is  probable  that  in 
general  estimation  the  perquisites  and  emoluments  of 
the  Rector  of  said  Corporation  have  been  overrated, 
and  cannot  be  taken  into  account  in  ascertaining  the 
support  to  be  provided  for  the  said  Rector. 

"  Your  committee  are  therefore  of  opinion — 

"  First,  That  a  house  shall  be  provided  for  the  resi- 
dence of  the  Rector  at  the  expense  of  the  Corpora- 
tion. 

"  Secondly,  That  a  sum  of  money  shall  be  paid  out 
of  the  revenue  of  the  Corporation  for  the  decent  and 
comfortable  support  of  the  Rector  and  his  family  5 
that  they  are  of  opinion  that  seven  hundred  pounds 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  167 

per  annum,  in  quarterly  payments,  will  be  sufficient 
for  this  purpose  5  and  that  the  Rector  credit  the  Corpo- 
ration with  all  such  sums  of  money  as  shall  in  any 
wise  come  to  his  hands  for  officiating  as  Rector  of  the 
Corporation,  or  performing  his  ministerial  functions 
in  the  congregations  thereof. 

Signed,  James  Duane, 

Chairman  of  the  Committee. 
"  In  order  that  the  affairs  of  this  Corporation  may 
be  executed  with  attention,  punctuality,  and  despatch, 
Resolved,  That  the  business  thereof  be  subdivided 
into  five  different  branches,  and  that  as  many  different 
committees  be  appointed  for  the  due  execution  of 
them  5  which  committees  shall  be  : 

"  1st.  A  committee  to  audit  the  accounts  of  the 
Corporation,  and  examine  its  debts  and  credits. 

u  2d.  A  committee  to  attend  to  the  leases  of  the 
Church  lands,  the  propriety  of  granting  new  ones  and 
on  what  conditions,  and  to  recommend  the  same  to  the 
Corporation. 

"  3d.  A  committee  to  superintend  and  visit  the 
Charity  School,  to  keep  the  accounts  thereof,  and 
admit  and  discharge  scholars  agreeably  to  the  rules  ot 
the  school. 

"  4th.  A  committee  to  arrange,  distribute,  and  rent 
the  pews  of  St.  George's  and  St.  Paul's  Chapels. 

"5th.  A  committee  to  attend  to  the  repairs  of 
St.  George's  and  St.  Paul's  Chapels,  and  the  several 
cemeteries  belonging  to  the  Corporation. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Rector  and  Church  Wardens 
be  considered  as  members  of  each  of  the  above  com- 
mittees. 


168  HISTORY    OF 

u  Resolved,  That  the  ground  rent  which  has  accrued 
on  lots  of  the  Church  ground  between  the  16th  of 
September,  1776,  and  the  25th  of  November,  1783, 
be  remitted  and  released  to  those  tenants  who,  on 
account  of  the  war,  have  been  without  the  British 
lines  during  that  period.  Provided,  that  if  any  tenant 
obtained  possession  of  his  lot  prior  to  the  25th  of  No- 
vember, 1783,  that  then  his  ground  rent  only  shall  be 
remitted  and  released  to  the  time  of  his  so  obtaining 
possession.  And  provided  further,  that  this  resolution 
shall  not  extend  to  prevent  this  Corporation  from 
deducting  the  amount  of  such  ground  rent  from  the 
sums  which  have  been  received  by  the  late  managers 
of  the  Church  estate  for  lots  of  the  Church  land,  and 
the  lessees  of  which  have  been,  as  aforesaid,  without 
the  lines,  and  which  sums  after  such  deduction  as 
aforesaid,  this  Corporation  do  intend  to  refund. 

u  On  the  8th  of  June,  1784,  it  was  unanimously 
resolved,  that  the  Reverend  Mr.  Abraham  Beach 
be,  and  he  is  hereby,  appointed  an  Assistant 
Minister  to  the  Rector,  in  performing  the  several 
parochial  duties  in  this  city  ;  and  it  was  resolved 
at  the  same  time,  that  the  said  Assistant  Minister 
should  be  allowed  such  a  sum  out  of  the  revenues  of 
the  Corporation,  in  addition  to  his  fees  and  emolu- 
ments, and  what  might  be  raised  for  him  by  subscrip- 
tion, as  should  make  a  provision  for  his  services  equal 
in  the  whole  to  the  sum  of  five  hundred  pounds  per 
annum. 

"Whereas,  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Corporation 
that  the  appointment  of  three  Assistant  Ministers  to 
the  Rector  will  be  the  means  of  effecting  harmony 


TRINITY   CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  169 

and  conciliation  among  the  different  members  of  the 
Church,  and  be  attended  with  many  other  salutary 
consequences :  And  whereas  it  is  the  wish  and  expec- 
tation of  this  Corporation,  that  Trinity  Church  should 
be  rebuilt  as  soon  as  the  funds  of  the  Church  wilt 
admit,  when  the  appointment  of  three  Assistant  Min- 
isters will  not  only  be  useful  but  necessary ;  there- 
fore, 

a  Resolved,  That  there  be  three  Assistant  Ministers 
to  the  Rector  in  his  parochial  duties. 

"  Resolved,  That  this  Corporation  will  pay  to  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Uzal  Ogden,  and  the  Reverend  Mr. 
Benjamin  Moore,  the  sum  of  two  hundred  pounds 
each  from  the  revenue  of  the  Corporation,  and  that  a 
subscription  be  immediately  instituted  for  raising  the 
remainder  of  the  salaries  of  the  above-named  gentle- 
men to  be  paid  in  half  yearly  payments,  and  to 
continue  during  the  residence  of  each  respective  sub- 
scriber in  this  city ;  and  that  in  case  any  moneys  be 
actually  received  from  the  subscription  more  than  the 
sum  of  three  hundred  pounds  for  each  of  the  said 
gentlemen,  that  then  such  overplus  shall  be  equally 
divided  between  the  Rev.  Mr.  Beach,  the  Rev.  Mr, 
Moore,  and  the  Rew  Mr.  Osdcn. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  salaries  of  the  Assistant  Min- 
isters commence  from  the  day  of  their  officiating  as 
such,  and  that  copies  of  these  resolutions  be  trans- 
mitted to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ogden  and  the  Rev.  Mr, 
Moore,  and  that  they  be  requested  to  officiate  in  the 
chapels  of  this  congregation  in  consequence  thereof; 
as  this  Corporation  do  expect  that  the  sums  raised  by 
subscription,  together  with  the  stipends  from  the 
11 


170  HISTORY    OF 

revenue  of  the  Corporation,  will  be  adequate  to  their 
maintenance. 

"  And  whereas  a  separate  subscription  for  a  parti- 
cular Assistant  Minister,  individually,  will  tend  to 
perpetuate  jealousies  and  animosities,  therefore, 

"  Resolved,  That  there  be  no  separate  and  distinct 
subscription  for  any  particular  Assistant  Minister. 

"Resolved,  That  the  Rev.  Mr.  Uzal  Ogden  be, 
and  he  hereby  is,  confirmed  in  his  appointment  as  an 
Assistant  Minister  to  the  Rector  in  his  parochial  duties. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ogden  be  indulged 
with  the  leave  of  absence  from  the  duties  of  his  func- 
tion in  this  city,  for  two-thirds  of  his  time  for  four 
years  from  the  date  of  this  resolution,  unless  there 
shall  be  sooner,  three  Episcopal  places  of  worship,  or 
a  vacancy  by  the  death,  resignation,  or  dismission  of 
any  of  the  Assistant  Ministers,  and  that  until  such 
time  Mr.  Ogden  shall  officiate  seventeen  Sundays 
in  the  year  in  both  or  either  of  the  chapels,  as  shall  be 
appointed. 

"  Resolved,  That  until  the  expiration  of  the  above 
leave  of  absence,  Mr.  Ogden  be  allowed  the  one-third 
part  of  the  salary  intended  to  be  given  to  him  by  the 
aforesaid  resolutions  of  the  twenty-ninth  of  July  last, 
that  is  to  say,  one-third  part  of  the  sum  allowed  him 
from  the  revenue  of  the  Corporation,  and  the  one-sixth 
part  of  the  sum  intended  to  be  raised  by  the  subscrip- 
tion of  the  congregation." 

The  following  entries  on  the  minutes  of  the  Vestry 
exhibit  such  a  spirit  of  kindness,  in  a  season  of  common 
calamity,  as  will  no  doubt  be  regarded  with  interest  by 
the  reader : 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  171 

"  Oct.  29th,  1779. — It  being  represented  to  this  Cor- 
poration by  one  of  its  members,  that  the  old  Dutch 
Church  in  this  city  is  at  present  used  as  a  hospital 
for  his  Majesty's  troops  5  the  Board  impressed  with 
a  grateful  remembrance  of  the  former  kindness  of 
the  members  of  that  ancient  Church,  in  permitting 
the  use  of  their  Church  to  the  members  of  the  Church 
of  England,  when  they  had  no  proper  edifice  of  their 
own  for  that  purpose,  offer  to  the  members  of  the 
ancient  Dutch  Church  the  use  of  St.  George's  Chapel 
for  celebrating  their  worship  on  Sundays,  and  such 
other  times  as  they  shall  choose  to  perforin  Divine 
service.  They  hope  from  nine  to  eleven  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  from  one  to  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
will  be  convenient  to  the  members  of  the  Dutch 
Church.  If  these  hours  should  be  very  inconvenient 
to  them,  the  Vestry  will  endeavour  to  meet  their 
wishes,  as  far  as  they  can  consistent  with  the  duty 
they  owe  to  their  own  congregation." 

In  the  following  year,  Dr.  Iriglis  communicated  to 
the  Board  a  letter  addressed  to  himself  from  several 
of  the  members  of  the  ancient  Reformed  Dutch  con- 
gregation, in  these  words : 

New-York,  April  8th,  1780. 
Revekend  and  Dear  Sir  : 

Major-General  Patison  having  taken  the  earliest 
opportunity  the  recovery  of  the  sick  and  wounded 
soldiery  would  permit  of  returning  the  old  Dutch 
Church,  of  which  we  now  have  possession ;  permit  us, 
sir,  through  you,  to  return  our  most  grateful  thanks  to 
the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  for  their  kind  offer  of 
St.  George's  Chapel,  with  the  use  of  which  we  were 


172  HISTORY    OF 

so  happily  accommodated  during  the  time  our  Church 
was  occupied  by  his  Majesty's  troops.  The  Christian- 
like behaviour  and  kind  attention  shown  in  our  dis- 
tress by  the  members  of  the  Church  of  England,  will 
make  a  lasting  impression  on  the  minds  of  the  ancient 
Reformed  Dutch  congregation,  who  have  always  con- 
sidered the  interest  of  the  two  Churches  inseparable, 
and  hope  that  this  instance  of  brotherly  love  will 
evince  to  posterity  the  cordial  and  happy  union  sub- 
sisting between  us. 

We  are,  with  great  regard,  Dear  Sir, 

Your  most  faithful  and  obedient  servants, 

Garrit  Lydekker,  V.  D.  M,, 

Abel  Harden  brook, 

John  Alstyne, 

William  Ellis, 

Henry  Brevoort, 

BaRNARDUS    S3IITH, 

Jeronimiis  Alstyne, 
Abel  Hardenbrook,  Jr., 
Isaac  Kip. 

On  the  13th  of  May,  1785,  the  Rector  laid  before  the 
Board  the  proceedings  of  the  Convention  of  Clergymen 
and  Lay  Deputies  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
in  the  United  States  of  America,  held  in  New-York  on 
the  6th  and  7th  of  October  last,  which  being  read  and 
considered,  it  was  resolved  by  the  Board,  "  that  this 
Corporation  do  approve  of  the  recommendations  and 
propositions  of  the  Convention  of  Clergymen  and 
Lay  Deputies  held  in  this  city  on  the  6th  and  7th  of 
October  last,  and  that  it  be  recommended  to  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Episcopal  Church  within  this  State,  that  a 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  173 

meeting  be  held  in  this  city  on  Wednesday,  the  22d 
of  June  next,  of  all  the  Episcopal  Clergymen  within 
this  State,  together  with  Lay  Deputies  from  the  sev- 
eral Episcopal  congregations,  in  order  to  determine 
on  some  plan  of  organization,  and  to  appoint  deputies 
to  attend  a  general  meeting  of  Clerical  and  Lay  De- 
puties from  the  several  Episcopal  congregations  within 
the  United  States,  at  Philadelphia,  on  the  Tuesday 
before  the  Feast  of  St.  Michael  next. 

"  And  it  was  further  resolved,  that  James  Duane, 
John  Alsop,  and  Marinus  Willett,  Esqs.,  should  be 
empowered  to  attend  the  proposed  meeting  on  the 
22d  of  June  next,  on  the  part  of  this  congregation. 

"The  Convention  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies 
from  the  several  Episcopal  congregations  within  this 
State,  having  been  held  in  this  city  on  Wednesday, 
the  22d  instant,  agreeable  to  the  recommendation  of 
this  Corporation,  the  following  gentlemen  were  elected 
deputies  to  attend  the  general  meeting  of  Clerical  and 
Lay  Deputies  from  the  several  Episcopal  congrega- 
tions within  the  United  States,  to  be  held  at  Phila- 
delphia on  the  Tuesday  before  the  Feast  of  St.  Michael 
next,  viz : 

"  Clerical  Deputies. — Samuel  Provoost,  Abraham 
Beach,  and  Benjamin  Moore. 

"  Lay  Deputies. — James  Duane,  Esq.,  of  New- 
York  5  Mr.  John  Davis,  of  Dutchess  County  ;  Mr. 
Daniel  Kissam,  of  Long  island. 

"  Upon  the  publication  of  the  Journal,  the  Rector 
was  requested  to  purchase,  for  the  use  of  the  congre- 
gation, one  hundred  copies  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
Convention    of   the   Deputies    from    the    Episcopal 


174  HISTORY    OF 

churches,    held  in    Philadelphia   in   September   and 
October  last." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Vestry,  held  on  the  6th  of 
April,  1786 ,  the  Rector  was  "  requested  to  recom- 
mend to  the  several  Episcopal  congregations  in  this 
State,  to  appoint  deputies  to  meet  in  this  city  on  the 
third  Thursday  in  May  next,  in  order  to  take  into 
consideration  the  proceedings  of  the  Convention  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  held  at  Philadelphia 
in  September  and  October  last,  and  to  appoint  depu- 
ties to  attend  the  Convention  which  is  proposed  to  be 
held  at  Philadelphia  on  the  third  Tuesday  in  June 
next. 

"  And  it  was  at  the  same  time  resolved,  that  the 
Rector  and  Assistant  Ministers  be  the  Clerical  Depu- 
ties, and  that  James  Duane,  John  Jay,  Robert  R. 
Livingston,  Richard  Morris,  John  Alsop,  William 
Duer,  and  Paschal  N.  Smith,  Esquires,  be  the  Lay 
Deputies  from  the  Episcopal  congregations  in  this 
city,  to  attend  the  Convention  proposed  to  be  held 
in  this  city  on  the  third  Tuesday  in  May  next." 

A  resolution  was  also  passed,  that  the  expenses  of 
the  delegates  who  might  attend  the  General  Conven- 
tion, should  be  paid  by  this  Corporation,  which,  as  was 
afterwards  noted,  amounted  to  £24. 

"  The  Rector,  Dr.  Provoost,  having  obtained  the 
necessary  recommendation  for  consecration  from  the 
State  Convention  lately  held  in  this  city,  as  also  a  sim- 
ilar one  from  the  General  Convention  held  at  Wil- 
mington )  the  sense  of  the  Vestry  was  taken,  when 
it  would  be  proper  he  should  go  to  England  for  that 
purpose,  and  they  were  unanimously  of  opinion  that 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  175 

he  should  proceed  in  the  next  packet.  And  on  mo- 
tion of  Mr.  Farquhar,  it  was  therefore  resolved,  that 
the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  English  guineas  be 
advanced  by  the  Treasurer  to  the  Rector,  on  account 
of  his  expenses. " 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Corporation  of  Trinity 
Church,  held  on  the  27th  of  October,  1788,  Mr.  Hai  - 
ison  moved  that  the  Board  should  come  to  the  follow- 
ing resolution,  to  wit : 

"  Resolved,  as  the  sense  of  this  Board,  that  the 
union  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
United  States  of  America  is  of  great  importance,  and 
ardently  to  be  desired  $  and  that  the  delegates  ap- 
pointed to  represent  the  Church  of  New-York  in  the 
ensuing  State  Convention  be  instructed  to  promote 
the  same  by  every  prudent  measure  consistent  with 
the  Constitution  of  the  Church,  and  the  respect  due 
to  the  General  Convention." 

Which  motion  having  been  recorded,  and  debates 
having  arisen  thereon,  Mr.  Duane  moved  that  it  should 
be  previously  determined,  whether  the  question  upon 
the  original  motion  should  now  be  taken,  and  the 
votes  being  thereupon  called  for,  there  appeared  in 
favour  of  putting  oft'  the  question — 

Mr.  Duane,  General  Clarkson, 

Mr.  Randall,  Mr.  Bleecker, 

Mr.  Livingston,  Mr.  Farquhar. 

The  other  twelve  voices  were  in  the  negative,  viz  : 
Theophylact  Bache,  Alexander  Ogsbury, 

John  Jones,  John  Lewis, 

Hubert  Van  Wagenen,       George  Dominick, 
Moses  Rogers,  Nicholas  Carmer, 


176  HISTORY    OF 

Andrew  Hamersley,  Nicholas  Kortright, 

William  Laight,  Richard  Harison. 

The  question  was  then  put  upon  the  original  motion, 
and  carried  in  the  affirmative.  Whereupon  the  Board 
agreed  to  the  resolution  proposed  by  Mr.  Harison  and 
it  was  resolved  accordingly. 

At  the  request  of  the  Right  Rev.  the  Bishop,  his 
dissent  from  the  said  resolution  was  entered  upon  the 
minutes  of  this  Corporation. 

On  the  19th  of  October,  1789,  a  notification  from 
the  Rev.  Benjamin  Moore,  Secretary  to  the  State 
Convention,  having  been  read,  requesting  this  Corpo- 
ration to  choose  deputies  to  attend  the  State  Conven- 
tion, which  is  to  meet  in  the  city  of  New-York  on  the 
first  Tuesday  in  November  next: 

"  The  Board  therefore  proceeded  to  the  election, 
and  Messrs.  Duane,  Harison,  Rogers,  Bache,  and 
Laight,  were  chosen  Lay  Deputies  from  this  Church 
to  the  said  Convention. 

"  Mr.  Jay  moved  that  the  Corporation  would  adopt 
the  following  resolution,  viz : 

"  That  the  delegates  now  chosen  to  represent  this 
congregation  at  the  next  Convention  be,  and  they 
hereby  are,  instructed  not  to  consent  to,  but,  on  the 
contrary,  to  oppose  every  proposed  constitution  for 
the  American  Episcopal  Church,  and  every  proposed 
alteration  in  the  one  of  1786,  that  shall  not  give  to 
the  laity  equal  powers  with  the  clergy  in  the  making 
of  all  acts,  laws,  and  regulations  binding  on  the 
Church. 

"  Mr.  Harison  moved  as  an  amendment,  that  from 
the  words  'not  give'  inclusive,  to  the  end  of  the  reso- 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  177 

lution  be  obliterated,  and  the  words,  c  give  to  the 
clergy  a  power  to  bind  the  laity  without  their  con- 
sent,' be  inserted  instead  thereof. 

"  Upon  motion  of  Mr.  Hamersley,  it  was  ordered 
that  the  further  consideration  of  the  said  resolution 
and  amendment  be  postponed." 

At  the  meeting  held  on  the  26th  of  October, 
1789,  a  resolution  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Warner, 
"  that  the  delegates  to  the  State  Convention  be, 
and  they  are  hereby  instructed  to  agree  to,  and 
adopt  the  constitution  proposed  by  the  General  Con- 
vention of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  lately 
held  at  Philadelphia,  and  any  further  measures  that 
may  have  a  tendency  to  cement  the  union  which  has 
taken  place  in  the  said  Church. 

"  The  question  being  taken,  on  motion  of  Mr.  Jay, 
whether  this  resolution  was  in  order,  was  carried  in 
the  affirmative,  in  the  manner  following  : 

"  For  the  Affirmative. — Messrs.  Van  Wagenen, 
Randall,  Hamersley,  Jones,  Carmer.  Lewis,  Ogsbury, 
Domini ck,  Warner,  Laight,  Rogers,  and  Harison. 

"For  the  Negative. — Messrs.  Jay,  Duane,  Bleecker, 
and  Farquhar." 

The  question  being  then  put  upon  the  resolution 
proposed  by  Mr.  Warner,  it  was  in  like  manner 
carried  in  the  affirmative,  the  voices  of  the  Board 
being  divided  as  upon  the  former  question. 

At  a  subsequent  period,  the  1st  of  November,  1790, 
a  motion  was  made  by  Mr.  Van  Wagenen  to  the 
following  effect ;  that  the  delegates  chosen  to  represent 
this   Church   in   the   ensuing   State   Convention,    be 


178  HISTORY    OF 

instructed  that  they  use  their  utmost  endeavours  to 
procure  a  compliance  with  the  proposal  made  by  the 
bishops  at  the  last  General  Convention,  for  a  ratifica- 
tion of  the  Thirty-nine  Articles  of  the  Church  of 
England,  except  the  36th  and  37th  of  the  said  Arti- 
cles. Whereupon  the  same  was  agreed  to,  nemine 
contradicente,  and  it  was  resolved  that  the  delegates 
chosen  by  this  Board  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  in- 
structed accordingly." 

The  heavy  losses  sustained  by  the  great  fire,  the 
unsettled  state  of  things  during  the  revolution,  and 
the  continuance  for  some  time  after  of  the  embarrass- 
ments of  the  Corporation,  led  to  a  great  delay  in  the 
rebuilding  of  Trinity  Church.  In  1787,  however,  it 
was  determined  that  measures  for  the  purpose  should 
be  taken  forthwith,  and  three  commissioners  were 
accordingly  appointed  to  propose  a  plan  for  the  build- 
ing, and  to  manage  and  superintend  the  work.  Sub- 
scriptions for  this  object  were  to  be  solicited  from  the 
members  of  the  congregation,  and  the  committee  on 
leases  were  instructed  to  select  such  lots  of  ground 
as  were  most  proper  to  be  sold  in  case  the  subscrip- 
tions should  be  found  inadequate  for  the  purpose.  But 
both  of  these  methods  it  would  appear  were  found  to 
be  insufficient  from  the  following  entry  on  the  minutes  : 

tf  The  Corporation  took  into  consideration  the  pro. 
posal  offered  to  them  for  hiring  money  by  way  of 
annuity  for  the  purpose  of  rebuilding  Trinity  Church, 
and  after  some  conversation,  it  was  resolved  that  the 
further  consideration  thereof  be  postponed,  and  that 
a  committee  should  be  nominated  to  inquire  into  the 
probability  of  borrowing  a  sufficient  sum  upon  inter- 


i*  la  n  w  n  i 

■  ■ 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  179 

est  'j  and  a  committee  consisting  of  the  following 
persons,  to  wit :  A.  L.  Bleeckcr,  Hubert  Van  Wage- 
nen,  General  Clarkson,  Robert  C.  Livingston,  and 
Theophylact  Bache,  was  appointed  accordingly. 

"  And  this  committee  at  the  next  meeting  reported 
that  there  was  a  probability  that  a  sufficient  sum  of 
money  could  be  borrowed  by  the  corporation  upon 
interest,  for  the  purpose  of  rebuilding  Trinity  Church." 

The  plan  of  the  Church  adopted  by  the  Vestry  was 
one  which  had  been  proposed  by  Dr.  Bard,  and  drawn 
by  Mr.  Robinson. 

"  Dr.  Johnson  was  requested  to  prepare  an  inscrip- 
tion for  a  corner-stone,  to  be  placed  by  the  Bishop  in 
the  foundation  of  Trinity  Church  ;  and  the  commis- 
sioners appointed  to  build  the  same  were  desired  to 
superintend  and  give  directions  respecting  the  cere- 
mony, and  to  present  as  a  compliment  to  the  masons 
the  sum  of  ten  pounds." 

In  the  next  year  the  Church  was  completed,  and 
the  following  inscription  was  placed  over  the  eastern 
door  beneath  the  porch : 

D.  O.  M. 
TRINITY    CHURCH 

WAS  FIRST  FOUNDED  IN  THE  YEAR  1696, 

ENLARGED  AND  BEAUTIFIED  IN  1737, 
AND  ENTIRELY  DESTROYED  IN  THE  GREAT 

Conflagration  of  the  City,  Sept.  21,  1776. 
this  BUILDING  was 

ERECTED    ON    THE    SITE    OF    THE    FORMER 

CHURCH, 

In  the  year   1788. 

Right  Rev.  Samuel  Provoost,  D.D.,  Rector. 

James  Duane,  Esq.  and  John  Jay,  Esq.,  Churchwardens. 


180  HISTORY  OF 

u  It  was  resolved  that  the  pews  in  Trinity  Church 
should  be  sold  on  the  first  day  of  March  next,  pre- 
cisely at  the  hour  of  eleven  in  the  morning,  and  that 
the  church  be  opened,  or  consecrated,  on  the  25th  of 
the  same  month. 

"  That  the  clerk  advertise  the  sale  of  the  pews,  and 
that  Mr.  Bleecker  be  the  auctioneer.  * 

"  That  a  single  pew  be  given  to  Mr.  John  Leake,  to 
descend  after  his  death  to  his  nephew  Mr.  Norton,  and 
that  he  be  informed  thereof  by  the  clerk,  and  requested 
to  make  his  choice  previous  to  the  day  of  sale. 

"  That  a  pew  be  appropriated  for  the  use  of  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  with  a  canopy  over  it, 
and  properly  ornamented.  And  that  another  pew, 
opposite  to  the  President's,  be  set  apart  for  the  Gov- 
ernor of  the  State  and  members  of  Congress.f  The 
Bishop  was  requested  to  wait  upon  the  President,  and 
inform  him  that  the  corporation  had  agreed  to  offer 
him  a  pew  in  Trinity  Church. 

"  It  was  likewise  resolved,  that  the  purchasers  of 
pews  in  Trinity  Church  should  hold  them  for  them- 
selves, their  wives  and  descendants,  as  long  as  they 
should  continue  to  be  members  of  the  church,  and 
pay,  or  cause  to  be  paid,  to  the  collector  appointed  by 
the  Vestry,  within  three  months  after  it  shall  become 
due,  such  annual  rent  as  might  have  been  fixed  by  the 
Vestry  before  the  day  of  sale,  or  be  hereafter  fixed  by 


*  It  appears  by  the  minutes,  that  Mr.  Bleecker  was  allowed  £6  8*. 
for  the  sale  of  the  pews. 

f  At  a  subsequent  meeting,  a  pew  was  likewise  assigned  in  each  of 
the  churches  to  the  members  of  the  Legislature. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  181 

them.  That  every  purchaser  should  sign  the  condi- 
tions of  sale,  which,  with  the  names  of  the  purchasers, 
should  he  registered  in  the  church  books,  and  each 
purchaser  should  be  entitled  to  a  copy  of  such  entry, 
if  required.  In  case  of  non-payment  of  rents,  or  if 
the  purchasers  or  their  descendants  should  remove 
from  the  city,  or  cease  to  be  members  of  the  church, 
the  pews  should  revert  to  the  church,  and  not  be 
transferable. 

u  It  was  also  provided,  that  if  any  of  the  subscribers 
towards  rebuilding  Trinity  Church  should  become 
purchasers  of  pews,  they  should  respectively  be  en- 
titled to  an  allowance  of  fifteen  per  cent,  upon  the 
money  subscribed  by  them,  to  be  considered  as  part 
of  their  purchase  money." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Vestry  held  on  the  16th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1786,  it  was  resolved,  "  that  a  good  lot  of  ground 
should  be  granted  to  each  of  the  Presbyterian  congrega- 
tions in  this  city,  for  the  use  of  their  respective  senior 
pastors  for  the  time  being  *,  that  the  Rector  should 
acquaint  the  pastors  with  the  intentions  of  this  body, 
and  that  they  should  be  requested  to  agree  on  the  lots 
their  corporations  respectively  would  hold,  that  deeds 
might  be  prepared  accordingly." 

The  Rector  afterwards  laid  before  the  Board  sun- 
dry resolutions  of  the  First  Presbyterian  congregation 
in  this  city,  expressive  of  their  thanks  for  the  gift  to 
this  corporation,  and  also  an  extract  from  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  Church  to  the  same 
effect. 

About  the  same  time,  "  the  Lutheran  congregation 
of  this  city  having  offered  the  use  of  a  bell  for  Trinity 


182  HISTORY    OF 

Church,  the  same  was  accepted,  to  be  returned  when- 
ever demanded,  with  the  thanks  of  this  Board." 

It  appears  by  the  following  entry  on  the  minutes, 
that  there  were  always  two  collections  in  the  morning 
on  Communion  day : 

"Resolved,  That  the  money  collected  in  church 
on  those  days  when  the  Communion  is  administered, 
shall  be  added  to  the  sum  collected  at  the  Communion, 
the  whole  to  be  applied  by  the  Rector  for  the  use  of 
the  poor  of  the  congregation." 

Shortly  after  the  building  was  completed,  Mr. 
Laight  laid  before  the  Board  a  plan  for  a  ring  of  bells 
for  Trinity  Church.  They  were  not  actually  ordered 
however  till  1796.  In  the  following  year  they  arrived 
from  England  in  the  ship  Favourite,  Captain  Drum- 
mond,  who  received  a  formal  vote  of  thanks  from  the 
Vestry  for  his  care  and  attention  in  the  transportation 
of  them.* 

The  charge  of  the  bells  was  given  to  a  committee, 
who  were  authorized  to  permit  any  number  of  men 
or  ringers  to  ring  them  by  way  of  practice,  but  with- 
out any  compensation  for  so  doing  ;  and  the  said  com- 
mittee were  also  authorized  to  contract  with  such 
ringers  for  compensation  for  their  services  when  they 
might  be  called  upon,  but  it  was  not  to  exceed  for  any 
one  day's  service  a  greater  sum  than  thirty  dollars. 


*  On  this  occasion  the  chairman  of  the  committee  of  repairs  was 
requested  to  present  the  thanks  of  this  Board  to  Doctor  Kunze,  the 
senior  Pastor  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  for  the  use  of  the  bell  which 
had  been  so  courteously  loaned  to  them,  and  to  return  the  same,  with 
the  fixtures  belonging  to  it. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  183 

Before  this  resolution,  however,  the  treasurer  had 
been  ordered  to  pay  them  forty  dollars  for  their  ser- 
vices on  the  4th  of  July.  It  seems  a  little  singular, 
that  while  the  compensation  was  so  large  for  a  full  set 
of  ringers  for  a  single  day,  that  Mr.  Moller  was 
allowed  but  forty  pounds  for  chiming  the  bells  through- 
out the  year.* 

By  a  resolution  of  the  Vestry,  it  was  ordered  that 
the  bells  in  the  different  churches  should  not  be  rung 
on  account  of  any  public  rejoicings,  unless  by  the  ex- 
press permission  of  the  Rector. 

The  organ  for  Trinity  Church,  which  was  also  import- 
ed from  Great  Britain,  though  of  no  great  power  was  a 
sweet-toned  instrument,  and  well  adapted  to  the  size 
of  the  building.  Mr.  John  Rice  was  appointed,  in 
1791,  the  organist  for  one  year,  with  a  salary  of  £50, 
which  was  afterwards  raised  to  £75,  and  it  was  made 
his  duty  to  attend  on  Sundays,  Prayer  days,  and  such 
other  occasions  as  the  Rector  might  think  proper. 

A  set  of  lustres  was  presented  to  the  church  by  Mr. 
George  Knox,  father-in-law  of  one  of  the  members 
of  the  Vestry  at  the  present  day  jf  and  in  1802  the 
committee  of  leases  and  repairs  was  ordered  to  pro- 
vide three  large  suitable  chandeliers  for  Trinity 
Church,  and  a  set  also  for  St.  George's  and  St. 
Paul's. 

About  this  time  a  petition  was  presented  by  William 
Post,  and  one  hundred  and  seventy-two  other  persons, 


*  The  Bellows  blower  was  allowed  to  receive  two  shillings  a 
piece  for  showing  the  bells. 
•\  Mr.  Robert  Hyslop. 


184  HISTORY   OF 

members  of  this  church,  praying  that  the  Rev.  Joseph 
Pilmore  might  be  called  as  an  Assistant  Minister,  and 
a  Sunday  evening  lecture  established.  A  special  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  consider  the  propriety  of 
calling  another  Assistant  Minister,  and  the  means  of 
supporting  him.  Mr.  Pilmore  had  been  a  follower 
of  Mr.  Wesley,  and  for  several  years  an  itinerant 
preacher  among  the  Methodists.  From  his  enthusi- 
astic temperament,  and  the  peculiar  strain  of  his 
discourses,  he  was  probably  not  acceptable  to  the  more 
judicious  and  soberminded  members  of  the  parish,  for 
the  committee  made  no  formal  report  on  the  subject,  and 
the  Vestry  very  shortly  after  proceeded  to  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  Rev.  John  Bisset.  The  friends  and  admirers 
of  Mr.  Pilmore,  unwilling  to  submit  to  the  disappoint- 
ment, in  a  spirit  of  frowardness  and  discontent  broke 
off  from  the  parish,  and  set  up  a  distinct  church,  with 
their  favourite  at  its  head.  The  Vestry,  by  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions,  seem  to  have  regarded  the  course 
of  these  wilful  persons  as  unchristian  in  its  temper, 
and  the  act  itself  as  almost  schismatical : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  late  separation  which  has 
been  made  from  the  congregation  of  Trinity  Church, 
appears  to  be  unjustifiable,  has  a  tendency  to  create 
discord  and  confusion,  and  ought  to  be  discounte- 
nanced j 

"  Therefore,  Resolved  also,  That  the  admission  of 
delegates  from  the  persons  who  have  so  separated,  into 
the  Convention  of  the  State,  or  the  acknowledgment 
of  them  as  a  distinct  church  by  that  body,  would,  in 
the  opinion  of  this  Board,  be  highly  improper,  and 
ought  to  be  opposed. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  185 

<CA  letter  from  John  Ruthcrfurd,  Esq.,  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Board,  and  read  in  the  words  following, 
to  wit : 

"New- York,  October  2d,  1787. 
"  Gentlemen  : 

"My  intended  removal  from  town,  induces  me  to 
resign  the  offices  of  vestryman  and  clerk  to  the  cor- 
poration of  Trinity  Church.  Be  assured  that  it  is 
with  regret  I  take  leave  of  your  body,  and  sincerely 
hope  that  my  conduct  while  in  office  may  meet  with 
your  approbation. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  gentlemen,  your  most  obe- 
dient servant, 

"  John  Rutherfurd. 

"  To  the  Rt.  Rev.  Rector  and  the  Church  Wardens  and 

Vestrymen  of  the  Corporation  of  Trinity  Church." 

"  Therefore,  Resolved,  That  the  said  resignation 
be  accepted. 

"  Mr.  Bleecker,  from  the  committee  on  accounts, 
reported  that  the  committee  had  met  Mr.  Rutherfurd 
and  examined  his  accounts,  and  the  minutes  of  the 
proceedings  of  this  Board  kept  by  him.  That  they 
found  the  said  accounts  were  kept  by  him  with  great 
good  order  and  regularity  :  and  that  the  utmost  atten- 
tion has  been  paid  by  him  to  the  interests  of  the 
corporation,  and  the  duties  of  his  station  as  clerk: 
and  that  in  their  opinion  he  is  entitled  to  the  esteem 
and  thanks  of  this  Board  for  his  faithful  conduct. 

"Resolved,  therefore,  That  the  Right  Reverend 

Rector  be  requested  to  present   the  thanks  of  this 

Board  to  Mr.  Rutherfurd,  for  his  faithful  services  in 

the  execution  of  the  said  offices. 
12 


186  HISTORY    OF 

"  Mr.  Rutherford's  resignation  being  accepted  of, 
the  Vestry  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  a  person  to 
officiate  as  clerk  in  his  stead.  Whereupon  the  votes 
being  taken,  there  appeared  to  be  a  majority  in  favor 
of  Richard  Harison,  Esq.,  and  he  was  accordingly 
elected  clerk  to  this  corporation." 

In  1793,  a  legacy  of  £1000  was  left  upon  certain 
trusts  to  this  corporation  by  Mr.  John  Leake,  and  the 
charitable  purposes  of  which  have  ever  since  been 
faithfully  fulfilled.  The  interest  of  this  sum  was  to  be 
applied  to  the  purchase  of  good  and  wholesome  bread 
for  weekly  distribution  in  the  church  among  the  needy 
members  of  the  parish.  For  more  than  fifty  years 
the  poor  have  had  occasion  to  remember  and  bless  the 
bounty  of  the  giver,  as  we  trust  they  may  forever  in 
generations  to  come. 

Shortly  after  this,  in  1795,  the  sum  of  one  thousand 
pieces  of  eight,  Danish  West  India  currency,  was  left 
to  this  corporation  and  the  poor  of  the  same,  by  the 
will  of  John  Stratford  Jones,  of  the  island  of  St.  Croix, 
the  whole  of  which  when  received  was  applied  to  the 
benefit  of  the  Charity  School. 

In  the  same  year  Mr.  Hugh  Gaine  made  a  volun- 
tary gift  of  fifty  Common  Prayer  Books,  to  be  placed 
in  the  hands  of  the  Rector,  and  distributed  among 
such  country  congregations  as  might  stand  in  need  of 
the  same. 

In  1792,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  confer  with 
Mr.  Stuyvesant  upon  his  proposal  for  building  a  church 
on  his  land,  towards  which  he  engaged  to  give  £800 
and  a  lot  of  ground  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in 
width,  and  one  hundred  and  ninety  feet  in  length. 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW- YORK.  187 

There  appears  to  have  been  no  other  contribution 
towards  the  object  in  that  quarter  of  the  city.  "  The 
offer  of  Mr.  Stuyvesant  was  taken  into  consideration, 
and  it  was  thereupon  resolved  that  this  Board  would 
accept  of  the  same,  and  take  measures  for  building  a 
church  accordingly,  as  soon  as  the  situation  of  the 
corporation  would  admit  thereof,  and  that  Messrs. 
Stuyvesant,  Gaine  and  Jones  should  be  a  committee 
to  procure  proper  plans  for  the  building,  and  to  in- 
quire what  aid  could  be  obtained  from  well  disposed 
persons  for  the  furthering  of  the  object."  Mr.  Stuy- 
vesant, however,  declining  to  co-operate  with  the 
other  members  in  soliciting  subscriptions  for  the 
church,  Mr.  Van  Home  was  appointed  in  his  place. 
There  is  no  record,  on  the  minutes,  of  any  thing 
having  been  effected  by  the  committee,  though  there 
is  reason  to  believe  that  something  was  done,  and  it 
would  therefore  appear  that  the  main  burthen  fell 
upon  Trinity  Church. 

In  1795,  this  corporation  agreed  to  raise  £5000  for 
the  purpose,  which  sum  seems  not  to  have  been  ade- 
quate to  the  wishes  of  the  parties  concerned,  for  at 
the  next  meeting  of  the  Vestry  it  was 

"Resolved,  as  the  sense  of  the  Board,  that  the  sum 
of  £5000  was  the  whole  that  the  corporation  had  en- 
gaged to  contribute  towards  the  Church  to  be  built  on 
Mr.  Stuyvesant's  land." 

Towards  the  close  of  the  year,  the  committee  to 
superintend  the  buildjng  of  St.  Mark's  Church,  was 
directed  to  proceed  with  the  same  until  it  should  be 
under  cover,  and  no  further* 

The  work  appears,  however,  to   have  progressed 


188  HISTORY    OF 

very  slowly,  for  at  a  meeting  of  the  Vestry  of  Trinity 
Church  in  July,  1798,  a  resolution  was  passed  autho- 
rizing the  committee  to  enter  into  a  contract  with  C. 
Halstead  for  furnishing  in  part  the  carpenters'  work 
of  St.  Mark's  Church,  for  the  sum  of  £1537  10s.  6d.y 
and  with  Messrs.  Pers  and  McComb  for  furnishing 
the  masons'  work,  for  the  sum  of  £500.  In  the  fol- 
lowing year  the  committee  at  length  reported  that  it 
was  finished,  and  it  was  consecrated  by  the  Right 
Rev.  Samuel  Provoost,  D.  D.,  on  the  9th  of  May, 
1799. 

Some  time  before  this  a  committee  had  been  ap- 
pointed to  consider  the  propriety  of  making  St.  Mark's 
a  distinct  church  from  this  corporation,  and  whether 
such  disposition  could  be  legally  made.  The  opinion 
of  Richard  Harison  and  Alexander  Hamilton  being 
satisfactory  on  this  point,  the  measures  for  this  pur- 
pose were  taken  accordingly. 

"Mr.  Harison  reported  that  the  first  step  necessary 
for  the  organization  of  that  church  would  be  to  con- 
vey the  Church  and  land  adjoining  it,  to  trustees  in 
trust  for  the  corporation  of  St.  Mark's  Church,  when 
the  same  should  be  formed.  The  trustees  having 
been  appointed,  and  the  conveyance  duly  made,  Mr. 
Stuyvesant  informed  this  Board  that  Churchwardens 
and  Vestrymen  were  chosen  for  St.  Mark's  Church, 
and  measures  taken  for  the  incorporation  of  the  same, 
and  a  petition  was  presented  praying  for  the  further 
aid  of  Trinity  Church. 

"  It  was  therefore  resolved  that  the  committee  of 
leases  should  be  instructed  to  designate  such  lots  as  it 
might  be  proper  to  convey  to  St.  Mark's  Church,  and 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK. 


189 


which  might  produce  them  a  revenue  equal  to  £200 
per  annum  : 

"And  that  Mr.  Harison  should  be  authorized  to  pur- 
sue such  measures  as  might  in  his  judgment  be  adap- 
ted to  obtain  such  an  act  of  the  Legislature  as  was 
recommended  in  his  and  General  Hamilton's  opinion 
of  the  9th  of  April,  1798." 

After  the  church  was  reported  to  have  been  fin- 
ished, several  things  still  remained  to  be  done.  A  bill 
of  £72  15s.  9 d.  was  paid  by  Trinity  Church  for 
painting  and  ornamenting  the  interior. 

And  the  small  bell  of  St.  Paul's  was  given  to  St. 
Mark's. 

"  On  the  report  of  the  committee  of  leases,  it  was 
further  resolved  by  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church, 
that  the  following  lots  should  be  a  donation  to  St. 
Mark's  Church  in  the  Bowery,  as  an  evidence  of  their 
cordial  wishes  to  promote  the  cause  of  religion: 

3  lots  on  Warren-street, 
5     "    on  Provoost, 

2  "    on  Greenwich,  and 

3  "    on  Reade,"  making 

13  in  all,  and  producing  at  the  time  a  rent  of  £200 
per  annum. 

This  liberal  grant  appearing  to  have  been  deemed 
insufficient  to  satisfy  the  wants  and  wishes  of  the 
Vestry  of  St.  Mark's,  the  corporation  of  Trinity 
Church  enlarged  it,  so  as  to  make  the  whole  number 
of  lots  thirty,  which  produced  at  the  time  an  annual 
income  of  £500,  viz  : 


190  HISTORY  OF 

5  lots  in  Warren-street, 
1     "   in  Church       " 

9  "   in  Reade         " 

3  "   in  Harison      " 

6  "   in  North  Moore-street, 
6  "   in  Provoost  " 

Total  30.  The  present  value  of  which  is  probably 
not  less,  at  a  moderate  computation,  than  $131,500. 

This  noble  endowment,  not  yet  appearing  ample 
enough,  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church  a  short  time 
after  received  another  application  to  build  them  a  par- 
sonage house. 

"  It  was  thereupon  resolved,  that  the  Rector  should 
inform  the  gentlemen  by  whom  it  was  made,  that  as 
this  Board  had  already  been  very  liberal  in  the  endow- 
ment of  said  church,  they  could  not,  in  justice  to  other 
churches  which  had  equal  claims,  grant  them  any 
further  donation." 

Not  discouraged,  however,  by  this  refusal,  the  Ves- 
try of  St.  Mark's  Church,  in  the  following  year,  pre- 
sented a  petition  to  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  for  a  loan 
of  £800,  which  the  Rector  was  also  requested  to 
inform  them  could  not  be  granted. 

After  the  lapse  of  a  few  years  more,  however,  an- 
other application  was  received  from  the  Rector  and 
Churchwardens  of  St.  Mark's,  praying  aid  to  finish  a 
steeple  to  their  church,  whereupon  it  was  resolved, 
that  this  Board  could  not  grant  the  assistance  required, 
but  that  nevertheless  the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars 
should  be  granted  towards  finishing  and  covering  the 
tower  of  said  church. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  191 

Besides  these  various  grants,  two  donations  were 
made  to  the  Rector  of  St.  Mark's  in  1810,  amounting 
to  the  sum  of  a  thousand  dollars. 

The  money  expended  in  the  erection  of  St.  Mark's, 
the  several  grants  which  were  made  to  it,  and  the 
ample  endowment  of  it  in  land  out  of  the  heart  of  the 
Church  estate,  could  not  be  reckoned  in  the  aggre- 
gate, considering  the  present  value  of  the  latter,  at 
less  than  $150,000. 

Can  it  be  conceived  that,  in  the  recollection  of 
these  multiplied  acts  of  liberality  and  kindness,  there 
could  be  any  other  feeling  on  the  part  of  St.  Mark's 
than  that  of  filial  gratitude  and  love  towards  the 
church  from  which  she  sprang  ? 

On  the  recommendation  of  several  members  of  the 
parish,  it  was  resolved,  on  the  1st  of  October,  1792, 
that  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Bisset  should  be  called  as  an 
Assistant  Minister,  at  a  salary  of  £250  per  annum,  for 
three  years,  after  which  the  same  should  be  at  the 
pleasure  of  the  corporation.  His  salary  was  raised 
at  the  expiration  of  the  term,  on  account  of  the  in- 
creased expenses  of  living,  to  £500  a  year,  and  Dr. 
Moore's  to  £600.  On  this  occasion  a  circumstance 
occurred  which  was  remarkably  characteristic  of  the 
modesty,  the  delicacy,  and  peaceful  disposition  of  this 
venerable  man.  The  following  letter  from  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Moore  was  addressed  to  this  Board : 

"  New-York,  Dec.  14,  1794. 
*'  Gentlemen  : 

"  At  your  last  meeting  you  were  pleased  to  add 
the  sum  of  £100  per  annum  to  my  salary.  It  is  well 
known  to  you  all,  that  this  resolution  of  your  Board 


192  HISTORY    OF 

was  passed  without  any  solicitation  on  my  part.  The 
frankness  of  the  offer,  therefore,  enhances  its  value, 
and  affords  an  additional  claim  to  my  grateful 
acknowledgments.  But  as  I  have  since  been  in- 
formed that  some  of  the  congregation  have  expressed 
their  dissatisfaction  at  this  augmentation  of  my  salary, 
and  as  I  wish  not  that  any  occasion  should  be  given 
for  uneasiness  and  dissention,  I  must  beg  leave  to  de- 
cline the  acceptance  of  the  hundred  pounds  in  ques- 
tion. In  hopes  that  you  will  not  disapprove  of  my 
determination  on  this  subject,  I  remain,  gentlemen, 
"  Your  obliged  and  humble  serv't, 

"Benj'n  Moore." 

The  Vestry,  however,  with  their  usual  liberality, 
would  not  permit  Dr.  Moore  to  suffer  from  his  gener- 
osity and  kindness.  For  after  his  letter  had  been  read, 
a  motion  was  made  by  Dr.  Johnson,  seconded  by  Mr. 
Rogers,  that  one  hundred  pounds  per  annum  should 
be  added  to  the  salaries  of  the  Rector,  Dr.  Moore 
and  Dr.  Beach,  which  motion  was  negatived  ;  and 

Mr.  Gaine,  seconded  by  Mr.  Laight,  moved,  and  it 
was  resolved,  that  the  sum  of  two  hundred  pounds 
should  be  given  by  this  corporation  to  the  Rector,  and 
the  sum  of  one  hundred  pounds  to  Dr.  Moore,  and 
the  like  sum  to  Dr.  Beach,  in  aid  of  their  present 
salaries,  on  account  of  the  extra  expense  of  living. 

Mr.  Bisset,  of  whose  eloquence  and  popularity  as  a 
preacher  I  had  often  heard,  but  of  whose  earlier  and 
later  history  I  have  not  been  able  to  obtain  any  certain 
information,  remained  in  the  Parish  till  1800,  when 
he  resigned  his  place  and  returned  to  Great  Britain. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  193 

On  this  occasion  the  Vestry,  with  their  accustomed 
kindness,  made  him  a  present  of  £150. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  corporation  of  Trinity 
Church  was  held  at  the  house  of  the  Right  Rev. 
Bishop  Provoost,  on  Friday,  the  20th  of  December, 
1790,  on  an  occasion  when  the  whole  nation  was 
plunged  in  the  deepest  grief.  There  was  but  one 
thought  that  then  occupied  the  minds  of  all  men,  and 
it  was  this  alone  that  had  called  the  Vestry  together. 
It  was  to  give  expression  to  their  sorrow  in  common 
with  that  of  the  people  at  large,  for  the  loss  of  the 
Father  of  his  Country.  The  record  is  beautiful  for 
its  very  simplicity.  It  is  entered  alone  on  the  broad 
page  of  a  large  folio,  and  with  a  striking  delicacy  is 
surrounded  by  a  black  border,  indicating  the  feelings 
with  which  it  was  indited : 

"  Ordered,  That  in  consideration  of  the  death  of 
the  late  Lieutenant-General  George  Washington,  the 
several  churches  belonging  to  this  corporation  be  put 
in  mourning." 

In  the  same  year  St.  Paul's  Chapel  was  in  great 
danger  of  being  destroyed  by  fire.  I  have  a  vivid 
recollection  of  the  circumstance,  and  also,  unless  my 
memory  deceive  me,  of  the  occasion  of  it.  It  was 
communicated  to  the  steeple  of  St.  Paul's  by  some 
burning  fragments,  blown  from  the  house  occupied  by 
Sir  John  Temple,  in  Greenwich-street,  which  was  on 
fire  at  the  time.  I  was  an  eye-witness  of  the  coolness 
and  daring  of  the  persons  by  whose  efforts  it  was 
extinguished.  For  this  important  service  there  was 
distributed  among  them  the  sum  of  sixty  pounds,  and 
very  special  attention  was  taken  by  the  Vestry  in 


194  HISTORY   or 

order  to  prevent  the  recurrence  thereafter  of  similar 
accidents. 

In  the  following  year,  September  8,  1800,  an  ap- 
pointment was  made  of  an  Assistant  Minister,  who 
was  probably  not  regarded  at  the  time  as  exceeding 
very  greatly  the  ordinary  standard  of  a  young  man  of 
promise,  but  who  turned  out  one  of  the  most  extra- 
ordinary men  of  the  age,  and  who  afterwards  filled 
the  Church,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  with  his  fame. 
It  was  John  Henry  Hobart.  To  the  communication 
which  was  made  to  him  of  his  appointment,  by  Dr. 
Charlton,  Mr.  Hamersley  and  Mr.  Gaine,  the  com- 
mittee raised  for  the  purpose,  Mr.  Hobart  returned 
the  following  answer : 

"  Dr.  John  Charltox  : 

"  Sir — I  take  the  liberty  of  informing  you,  as 
chairman  of  the  committee  who  presented  to  me  the 
call  from  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church  to  the  office 
of  an  Assistant  Minister,  that  I  accept  the  said  ofice 
on  the  terms  stated  in  the  call.  The  congregation 
with  which  I  am  at  present  connected  have  exerted 
themselves  so  much  to  render  my  situation  comfortable 
and  happy,  that  I  think  I  cannot  with  delicacy  and 
propriety  leave  them  before  the  spring,  unless  they 
should  signify  to  me  that  they  have  chosen  another 
minister,  and  are  willing  to  dispense  with  my  services. 
"  Permit  me,  through  you,  sir,  to  express  to  the 
Vestry  my  sensibility  to  the  polite  and  honourable 
manner  in  which  this  business  has  been  conducted. 
The  best  evidence  that  I  can  give  of  my  feelings,  will 
be  an  endeavour  to  act  in  all  cases  with  fidelity  and 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK. 


195 


independence,  governed  only  by  a  sincere  regard  to 
the  sacred  dictates  of  conscience  and  duty.  The  sta- 
tion would  require  the  judgment  and  experience  of 
more  advanced  years.*  I  shall  have  therefore  a  pecu- 
liar claim  on  the  friendship  and  counsel  of  the  Vestry, 
on  the  candour  and  support  of  the  congregation,  and 
on  the  affectionate  advice  and  aid  of  my  superiors  and 
brethren  in  the  ministry.  Thus  strengthened  and 
supported  while  I  endeavour  faithfully  to  discharge  my 
duty,  I  trust  that  I  may  hope  for  the  presence  and 
blessing  of  Almighty  God. 

"  With  sentiments  of  sincere  respect  for  yourself 
and  the  committee,  and  for  the  Rector  and  Vestry  of 
the  Church, 

I  am,  Sir, 

Your  obed't  servant, 

"John  Henry  Hobart. 

"  Dr.  Charlton." 

It  appears  that  the  difficulty  which  he  apprehended, 
of  not  being  able  to  enter  upon  his  office  until  spring, 
was  in  some  way  obviated,  for  on  the  21st  of  January, 
1801,  the  treasurer  of  the  Vestry  was  ordered  to  pay 
Mr.  Hobart  one  hundred  pounds,  in  consequence  of 
the  extraordinary  expenses  of  his  removing  to  the  city 
at  that  season  of  the  year.f 

There  was  a  curious  oversight  in  regard  to  one  of 
the  circumstances  connected  with  this  appointment, 


*  Mr.  Hobart  was  at  that  time  only  twenty-five  years  of  age. 
f  The  salary  of  the   Assistant  Ministers,  at  the  time  Mr.   Hobart 
was  appointed,  was  £500,  and  that  of  the  Rector  £700  per  annum. 


196  HISTORY    OF 

which  has  occurred  since,  I  believe,  on  several  occa- 
sions. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Vestry,  which  was  held  on 
the  12th  of  April,  1802,  the  Board  came  to  the  fol- 
lowing resolution  : 

"Whereas  the  Charter  of  Trinity  Church  requires 
that  when  an  Assistant  Minister  shall  be  called  to  offi- 
ciate in  said  Church,  he  shall  be  in  Priest's  orders,  and 
whereas  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Hobart  was  called  to  the  said 
office  when  he  was  only  in  Deacon's  orders,  (but)  has 
since  been  admitted  to  the  order  of  a  Priest,  therefore 
resolved,  that  the  said  call  is  hereby  ratified  and  con- 
firmed, to  all  intents  and  purposes." 

At  the  same  meeting  of  the  Vestry  as  that  at  which 
Mr.  Hobart  was  called  as  an  Assistant  Minister,  it 
was  represented  by  Dr.  Charlton,  as  the  wish  of  Bishop 
Provoost,  to  resign  his  office  as  the  Rector  of  this 
corporation  at  some  future  period.  He  afterwards 
reported  to  the  Board,  on  the  9th  of  November,  1800, 
that  it  was  his  intention  to  do  so  immediately  on  Mr. 
Hobart's  taking  upon  him  the  duties  of  his  office. 

"  It  was  therefore  resolved,  that  his  salary  should  be 
continued  to  the  first  of  August  ensuing,  and  also  that 
he  should  have  the  use  of  the  house  he  then  occupied 
to  the  first  of  November. 

"  And  it  was  likewise  further  resolved,  that  on  the 
resignation  taking  place,  this  Board  would  allow  him 
the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars  annually  during  his 
life,  and  that  the  clerk  should  be  authorized  to  prepare 
some  proper  instrument,  under  the  seal  of  this  corpo- 
ration, for  such  annuity  ,  and  that  the  said  instrument 
should  be  submitted  to  Mr.  Cadwallader  D.  Colden,  as 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  197 

the  Rector's  Attorney.  The  resignation  was  made  at 
the  following  meeting,  December  22,  1800,  in  due 
legal  form,  and  was  accordingly  accepted,  after  which 
the  Rector  took  leave  of  the  Board  in  the  most  affec- 
tionate manner." 

The  following  brief  sketch  of  the  life  and  character 
of  Bishop  Provoost,  is  taken  from  a  fuller  one  which 
appeared  some  time  since  in  the  Churchman,  and  which 
was  written  by  his  son-in-law,  the  late  Cadwallader  D. 
Colden,  Esq.,  with  additions  by  Mr.  Geo.  B.  Rapelye  : 

"  The  family  from  which  Bishop  Provoost  was  de- 
scended, from  the  earliest  period  to  which  it  can  be 
traced,  (1550,)  was  French.  In  some  of  the  old 
books  which  came  down  to  him,  there  is  the  Provoost 
coat  of  arms,  with  the  motto,  Pro  libertate.  It  has 
some  times  been  supposed  that  the  Bishop  adopted 
the  motto  at  the  time  when  he  took  a  decided  part  in 
favour  of  the  liberties  of  this  country,  but  this  is  a 
mistake,  as  it  was  undoubtedly  borne  by  the  family  in 
remote  times. 

"  The  first  of  the  name  of  whom  any  trace  can  be 
found,  was  a  William  Provoost,  who  resided  in  Paris 
at  the  time  of  the  massacre  of  St.  Bartholomew7.  The 
family  were  Huguenots,  and  this  William  Provoost, 
with  another  member  of  the  same,  made  their  escape 
from  the  murderers  employed  on  that  occasion.  He 
married  a  lady  by  the  name  of  Tain  Waart,  with 
whom,  in  1634,  lie  came  to  New-York,  then  New- 
Amsterdam.  Samuel  Provoost,  the  subject  of  this 
memoir,  who  was  a  descendant  of  William,  was  born 
in  this  city  on  the  20th  of  February,  1742.  It  is 
curious  to  observe,  as  indicative  of  the  superstitions 


198  HISTORY    OF 

of  the  times,  that  his  father  was  not  only  careful 
to  record  the  exact  hour  and  minute  of  his  children's 
birth,  but  he  also  set  down  the  aspect  of  the  heavens 
at  the  time. 

"Samuel  was  baptized  by  Dominie  Galterus  Du- 
Bois.  After  he  had  received  the  rudiments  of  ordi- 
nary classical  instruction,  he  entered  as  one  of  the  early 
students  of  King's  (now  Columbia)  College,  then  a 
frame  building  in  Trinity  Church-yard  ;  and  was  one 
of  a  class  of  nine  that  graduated  at  its  first  commence- 
ment, receiving  his  baccalaureate  degree  in  his  seven- 
teenth year. 

"His  ancestors,  for  several  generations,  belonged 
to  the  Dutch  Church.  When  he  joined  the  Church 
of  England  does  not  appear.  The  probable  conjec- 
ture is,  that  he  may  have  been  somewhat  influenced 
in  this  respect,  by  pursuing  his  collegiate  course  at 
home,  under  President  Samuel  Johnson,  (who  was 
also  a  settled  minister  of  Trinity  Church,)  and  by 
finishing  his  education  abroad,  at  an  English  univer- 
sity $  or  what  is  more  probable,  he  may,  like  others, 
have  been  driven  from  the  Dutch  Church,  by  its  con- 
sistory's pertinaciousness  in  disregarding  the  entreaties 
of  the  younger  part  of  the  two  congregations,  to  have 
a  part  of  the  services  conducted  in  the  English 
language. 

"  In  the  summer  of  1761,  he  embarked  for  Europe. 
He  arrived  at  Falmouth  in  September,  and  in  Novem- 
ber he  entered  fellow-commoner  of  St.  Peter's  Col- 
lege, Cambridge,  England.  While  he  seems  to  have 
partaken  freely  of  the  gaiety  which  was  then  the 
fashion  of  the  English  universities,  he  appears  also  to 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  199 

have  prosecuted  his  studies  with  great  assiduity.  His 
father  allowed  him  a  private  tutor,  the  celebrated  Dr. 
John  Jcbb,  a  man  of  distinguished  talents,  with 
whom  Mr.  Provoost  formed  an  ardent  friendship,  and 
was  in  correspondence  so  long  as  Dr.  Jebb  lived. 

"  Soon  after  Mr.  Provoost  had  commenced  his  stu- 
dies at  Cambridge,  he  seems  to  have  decided  on  the 
Church  as  his  profession,  and  it  is  evident,  from  the 
letters  between  him  and  his  father,  that  this  was  his 
own  unbiassed  choice. 

"  He  had  acquired  a  knowledge  not  only  of  the 
Latin,  Greek,  and  Hebrew  languages,  but  he  made 
himself  master  of  the  French  and  Italian. 

"  In  a  letter  to  his  father,  dated  15th  April,  1765, 
he  says,  '  I  can  get  my  degree  and  commendamus 
here  whenever  I  please  5  nothing  but  my  being  too 
young  for  orders  could  prevent  my  returning  home 
next  summer.' 

"  On  the  3d  of  February,  1766,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  order  of  Deacon  at  the  Chapel  Royal  of  St. 
James'  Palace,  Westminster,  by  the  Bishop  of  Lon- 
don ;  and  on  the  25th  of  March  of  the  same  year,  he 
wras  admitted  to  Priest's  orders  at  the  King's  Chapel, 
in  Whitehall,  by  Dr.  Edmund  Kean,  Bishop  of 
Chester. 

"  Benjamin  Bousficld  was  a  fellow  student  of  Mr. 
Provoost,  at  the  University  of  Cambridge  5  they  were 
intimate  friends.  Mr.  Bousficld  was  the  only  son  of 
Thomas  Bousfield,  a  man  of  large  estate,  and  then 
the  only  banker  in  the  city  of  Cork,  Ireland.  The 
son  was  afterwards  a  conspicuous  character  in  the 
Irish  House  of  Commons,  and  ex-sheriff  of  the  county 


200  HISTORY-  OF 

of  Cork  during  the  great  political  contentions  of  that 
country.  He  was  so  far  a  literary  man,  that  he  ven- 
tured to  enter  the  field  with  the  great  Edmund  Burke, 
and  write  an  answer  to  Mr.  Burke's  celebrated  book 
on  the  French  Revolution. 

"  At  about  the  period  last  mentioned,  the  widowed 
mother  of  Mr.  Bousfield,  and  her  daughter  Maria, 
paid  a  visit  to  Cambridge.  The  acquaintance  between 
Mr.  Provoost  and  the  sister  of  his  friend,  soon  ripened 
into  a  mutual  attachment,  and  on  the  8th  of  June, 
17(36,  they  were  married  in  St.  Mary's  Church,  Cam- 
bridge, by  one  of  the  senior  fellows  of  Trinity  College. 

"  Mr.  Provoost  was  probably  induced  to  take  this 
step  the  sooner  by  the  prospect  which  was  then  held 
out  to  him,  of  an  immediate  and  eligible  settlement 
in  his  own  country.  The  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church 
were  then  building  a  second  Chapel,  (St.  Paul's,)  and 
he  was  informed  by  his  correspondents,  that  the  inten- 
tion was  to  offer  him  a  living  in  that  Parish. 

"  Soon  after  his  marriage,  he  returned  to  New-York 
with  his  bride,  and  in  December,  176G,  he  accepted  a 
call  to  be  one  of  the  Assistant  Ministers  of  Trinity 
Church,  which  embraced  St.  George's  and  St.  Paul's 
Chapels  5  the  Rev.  Samuel  Auchmuty,  Rector,  the 
Rev.  John  Ogilvie  and  the  Rev.  Charles  Inglis, 
Assistant  Ministers." 

He  continued  his  connection  with  the  parish  until 
a  short  time  before  the  Revolutionary  War,  when  it 
was  temporarily  dissolved. 

"Soon  after  he  left  it,  he  determined  to  seek 
in  the  country  that  quiet  which  the  perturbed  state 
of  the  city  did  not  allow.      He  purchased    a    small 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  201 

farm  at  East-Camp,  which  was  then  in  Dutchess 
County.  In  the  selection  of  this  spot,  he  was,  no 
doubt,  in  some  measure,  influenced  by  its  being  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  the  Livingston  families.  Mr. 
Walter  and  Mr.  Robert  Cambridge  Livingston  had 
been  fellow-students  with  him  at  the  English  university. 
In  the  latter  part  of  1770,  or  beginning  of  1771,  he 
removed  with  his  family  to  East-Camp.  From  this 
time  till  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  Mr. 
Provoost  seems  to  have  lived  in  perfect  retirement, 
occupying  himself  with  literary  pursuits,  for  which  he 
had  a  great  taste.  His  political  sentiments,  however, 
were  so  well  known,  and  his  character  and  abilities 
were  so  much  respected,  that  his  name  was  put,  by 
the  leading  politicians  of  the  day,  at  the  head  of  a 
list  of  persons  who  were  to  be  delegates  to  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  but  he  declined  accepting  this 
office. 

"  But  after  the  termination  of  the  Revolutionary 
War,  Mr.  Provoost's  prospects  very  soon  changed. 
A  few  days  before  the  British  troops  finally  evacuated 
the  city  of  New-York,  the  persons  who  then  claimed 
to  be  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church,*  elected  the  Rev. 
Benjamin  Moore,  Rector,  in  the  place  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Inglis,  who  was  about  returning  to  England  with  the 
army,  in  consequence  of  the  act  of  the  Legislature, 
passed  four  years  before,  which  banished  his  person, 
and  confiscated  his  estate. 


*  Having  been  chosen  according  to  the  provisions  of  the  Charter, 
it  seems  strange  that  there  should  have  been  any  doubt  oi  the  justice 
of  their  pretensions  in  claiming  to  be  the  Vestry. 

13 


202  HISTORY    OF 

"  When  the  Americans  took  possession  of  the  city 
of  New-York,  it  excited  great  discontent  among  the 
members  of  the  Church  who  had  been  driven  from 
their  homes  during  the  war,  and  who  disputed  the 
validity  of  any  election  of  Vestrymen  while  that  city 
was  in  possession  of  the  enemy.  These  appointed  a 
committee  to  confer  with  the  Vestry,  and  to  endeav- 
our to  induce  them  to  adopt  such  measures  as  might 
produce  an  amicable  arrangement.  It  was  proposed 
to  the  Vestry,  that  the  new  Rector  should  resign,  and 
that  another  should  be  chosen  in  his  place :  after  a 
deliberation  of  some  days,  the  Vestry  refused  to  accede 
to  this  proposition.  The  committee  then  applied  to 
the  Council  appointed  by  the  Legislature  for  the  tem- 
porary government  of  the  southern  parts  of  the  State, 
whenever  the  enemy  should  abandon  or  be  dispos- 
sessed of  the  same  until  the  Legislature  could  be 
convened.  The  contending  parties  had  eminent  law- 
yers to  defend  their  respective  rights,  and  after  a  full 
hearing  on  both  sides,  the  Council  decided  that  the 
Vestry  was  not  legally  constituted,  and  that  their  elec- 
tion of  a  new  Rector  was  of  course  void.*  The 
Council  also  vested  the  temporalities  of  the  Church 
in  nine  Trustees,  who,  on  the  13th  of  January,  1784, 
took  possession  of  the  Church.  This  procedure  was 
immediately  followed  by  the  election  of  a  new  Vestry, 
which  unanimously  elected  Mr.  Provoost  their  Rector. 
A  deputation  was  sent  to  him  to  request  that  he  wrould 


*  In  what  way  the  Council  could  have  come  to  this  conclusion  it  is 
difficult  to  conceive,  except  on  the  ground  of  might  overcoming  right . 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  203 

accept  the  office ;  to  this  he  consented,  and  with  his 
family  returned  to  the  city. 

"  The  return  of  Mr.  Provoost  must  have  heen 
agreeable  to  him  on  many  accounts ;  among  others, 
it  could  not  have  been  the  least  satisfactory,  that  it 
restored  him  to  his  property.  His  revenue  from  the 
Church,  his  farm,  and  his  private  fortune  which  he 
inherited  from  his  father,  not  only  relieved  him  from 
pecuniary  embarrassments,  but  rendered  him  entirely 
independent,  and  enabled  him  to  indulge  the  disposi- 
tion he  always  had  for  great  hospitality. 

"  The  decision  of  the  Council,  the  election  of  the 
new  Vestry,  the  termination  of  the  trust  created  by 
the  Council,  it  being  vested  in  the  Vestry,  with  several 
amendments  to  the  original  charter,  so  as  to  make  it 
conformable  and  consistent  with  the  constitution  of 
the  State,  passed  the  Legislature  the  27th  of  April, 

1784.  That  body  in  the  following  November  appointed 
Mr.  Provoost  a  Regent  of  the  University  of  the  State. 
On  the  removal  of  the  Continental  Congress  from 
Trenton  to  New-York,  Mr.  Provoost,  in  November, 

1785,  was  elected  Chaplain. 

"  No  sooner  had  the  country  established  its  political 
independence,  than  the  members  of  the  Church 
thought  not  only  of  freeing  it  also  from  all  foreign 
ecclesiastical  jurisdiction,  but  of  establishing  for  it,  as 
far  as  circumstances  would  permit,  a  republican  gov- 
ernment j  that  is,  an  elective  and  representative 
government,  in  the  formation  of  which  the  members 
of  the  Church  seem  also  to  have  had  in  mind,  as  a 
model,  the  federative  constitution  of  the  country :  the 
State  Conventions  being  in  the  place  of  the  State 


204  HISTORY    OF 

Legislatures,  and  the  General  Convention  in  the  place 
of  Congress. 

"  The  first  meetings  of  the  clergy  and  laity  to  carry 
out  these  views,  were  held  this  year  (1784)  at  New- 
Brunswick  and  New-York.  The  following  year  a 
meeting  was  held  in  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Provoost  was 
appointed  chairman  of  a  committee  to  draft  an  eccle- 
siastical constitution  for  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  and  to  pre- 
pare the  necessary  and  proposed  alterations  in  the 
liturgy.  The  proceedings  of  those  early  meetings 
after  the  termination  of  the  war,  (as  well  as  those 
that  followed,)  contemplated  the  necessity  of  having 
an  independent  order  of  bishops  j  but  difficulties 
seemed  to  present  themselves  in  obtaining  a  due  con- 
secration of  persons  to  this  holy  office. 

"  The  English  bishops  could  not  confer  it  without 
the  candidate  would  take  certain  oaths,  and  could 
produce  certain  documents  entirely  inconsistent  with 
the  new  relations  between  Great  Britain  and  the 
United  States — besides,  it  was  feared  that  it  was  too 
soon  to  expect  that  the  animosities  which  are  always 
generated  by  civil  wars,  would  have  so  far  subsided 
as  to  render  the  mother  country  disposed  to  be  indul- 
gent to  her  rebellious  children. 

"  But  the  friends  of  the  Church  in  New-York,  with 
their  friends  in  the  States  south  of  it,  exerted  them- 
selves to  obtain  an  act  of  the  British  Parliament,  autho- 
rizing the  Archbishops  of  Canterbury  and  York  to 
consecrate  foreign  bishops,  and  removing  the  objections 
which  persons  not  in  allegiance  to  the  King  of  Great 
Britain  must  have  had  to  the  English  forms.     In  their 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  205 

efforts  in  this  respect,  the  friends  of  the  Church  seem 
to  have  been  very  fortunate  in  obtaining  the  co-opera- 
tion of  the  high  officers  of  the  government  of  the 
United  States,  who  appear  to  have  taken  considerable 
interest  in  this  subject  ,•  particularly  Mr.  John  Adams, 
then  our  ambassador  at  the  Court  of  St.  James,  and 
Mr.  Richard  Henry  Lee,  President  of  Congress,  to 
whom  the  State  Convention  (12th  June,  1786,)  re- 
turned thanks  for  the  interest  those  gentlemen  had 
taken  in  procuring  the  episcopate. 

u  This  Convention  the  next  day  elected  Mr.  Pro- 
voost  Bishop,  and  three  weeks  after  he  was  honored 
by  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  with  the  degree  of 
Doctor  in  Divinity. 

u  The  testimonials  of  Doctor  Provoost,  as  Bishop 
elect  of  New-York ;  Dr.  William  White,  as  Bishop 
elect  of  Pennsylvania  ;  and  Dr.  David  Griffith,  as 
Bishop  elect  of  Virginia,  were  signed  by  the  members 
of  the  General  Convention  held  at  Wilmington,  Dela- 
ware, (of  which  Convention  Dr.  Provoost  was  Presi- 
dent,) on  the  11th  of  October.  On  the  second  day  of 
November,  the  two  first  named  "  persons  "  sailed  from 
the  port  of  New-York,  and  landed  at  Falmouth  after 
a  passage  of  nineteen  days,  and  on  the  fourth  day  of 
February,  1787,  were  consecrated  at  Lambeth  Palace, 
by  Dr.  John  Moore,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  the 
Archbishop  of  York,  the  Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells, 
and  the  Bishop  of  Peterborough,  participating  in  the 
consecration. 

"  Shortly  after  their  consecration,  Bishop  Provoost 
and  Bishop  White  sailed  from  England,  and  after  a 
very  tedious  and   boisterous  passage,  during  which 


206  HISTORY    OF 

Bishop  Provoost  was  so  ill  that  it  was  feared  he  would 
not  live,  they  arrived  in  New-York  on  Easter-Sunday, 
April  8th,  1787,  just  in  time  for  Bishop  Provoost  (as 
Rector)  to  hold  the  annual  election  for  Wardens  and 
Vestrymen.  He  had  every  reason  to  be  gratified 
with  his  reception  on  his  return,  as  he  was  cordially 
greeted  by  all  denominations. 

"  The  Convention  of  the  Church  being  convened 
made  the  following  address  : 

"'Right  Reverend  Sir: 

«  i  We,  the  clergy  and  laity,  representatives  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  now  assembled  in 
Convention,  beg  leave  to  address  you  on  this  solemn 
occasion  with  sentiments  of  unfeigned  duty  and 
respect. 

"  'After  having  successfully  accomplished  the  great 
object  you  had  in  view,  we  congratulate  you  on  your 
return  to  your  native  city,  safe  from  the  hazards  of  a 
long  and  tempestuous  voyage,  and  in  a  great  measure 
restored  to  health  from  a  painful  and  dangerous 
illness. 

"  '  While  we  express,  in  terms  of  the  warmest  grati- 
tude, the  high  obligations  we  are  under  to  the  English 
bishops  for  their  paternal  interposition  in  our  favour, 
we  beg  leave  to  present  to  you  our  hearty  thanks  for 
your  compliance  with  our  desires,  and  thus,  through 
many  difficulties  and  sufferings,  rendering  our  Church 
complete  in  all  its  parts. 

"'This    propitious    event,    so    long   and   ardently 
wished  for,  forms  an  important  era  in  the  history  of 
our   Church.     We  are   now,  by  Divine  providence, 
placed  in  such  a  situation,  that  a  regular  succession 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  207 

of  the  ministry  can  be  continued  to  us  and  our  pos- 
terity, without  being  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  apply- 
ing to  a  distant  land. 

"  'Justly  reposing  the  highest  confidence  in  your 
integrity  and  piety,  your  love  of  peace  and  order,  and 
your  unremitted  endeavours  for  the  advancement  of 
true  religion  and  virtue,  we  rejoice  that  the  distin- 
guished honour  of  filling  one  of  the  first  Episcopal 
chairs  in  these  United  States,  hath  been  conferred  on 
a  character  so  truly  amiable,  and  we  trust  that  we, 
and  those  whom  we  represent,  shall  never  fail  to  ren- 
der you  all  clue  support,  respect,  and  reverence. 

a  'May  it  graciously  please  the  Almighty  Ruler  of 
the  Universe,  to  bless  your  ministrations,  that  a  firm 
foundation  may  be  laid  for  the  peace  and  prosperity 
of  our  Church,  which  shall  remain  unshaken  to  the 
latest  ages. 

"  'May  you,  Right  Reverend  Sir,  long  continue  in 
the  discharge  of  your  sacred  office,  an  example  for 
our  imitation,  and  an  ornament  to  our  holy  religion  \ 
and  may  we,  and  all  those  committed  to  our  pastoral 
charge,  derive  from  your  ministrations  a  benefit  which 
will  be  of  everlasting  duration ;  so  that  when  we  are 
called  to  answer  for  our  actions,  we  may  give  an 
account  with  joy,  and  remain  forever  one  flock  under 
one  shepherd,  Jesus  Christ,  the  Bishop  of  our  souls.' 

"  To  which  the  Bishop  replied : 

**  'Reverend  and  Most  Dearly  Beloved  : 

"  '  This  affectionate  address — your  obliging  con- 
gratulations on  my  return  to  my  native  city,  and  on 


208  HISTORY  OF 

the  recovery  of  my  health — and  above  all,  your  assur- 
ance of  support  in  my  ministrations,  I  receive  with 
the  utmost  satisfaction  and  thankfulness. 

u  '  The  object  of  my  late  mission  being  the  inde- 
pendence of  our  Church,  and  a  regular  succession  of 
the  ministry,  was  of  such  magnitude  that  its  happy 
accomplishment  cannot  fail  of  inspiring  all  its  mem- 
bers with  the  highest  gratitude  to  Almighty  God  and 
to  all  under  him,  who  have  by  their  good  offices  con- 
tributed to  its  success. 

"  ( To  the  English  Bishops  particularly,  we  are 
under  indelible  obligations  ,•  and  I  cordially  unite  with 
you  in  a  public  testimony  of  their  benevolence  and 
paternal  exertions  in  our  favour.  Whenever  we  shall 
reflect  on  this  important  era  in  the  history  of  our 
Church,  they  must  be  remembered  with  honour  and 
reverence.  Let  us,  my  beloved  friends,  zealously 
strive  to  make  a  due  improvement  of  the  spiritual 
privileges  we  now  enjoy.  Let  our  faith  be  sincere, 
and  our  lives  unblemished,  as  our  doctrine  and  wor- 
ship are  pure  and  holy ;  and  God  will  continue  to 
shower  down  his  blessings  upon  us  and  our  Church, 
with  a  bountiful  hand. 

"  '  May  you,  my  reverend  brethren,  aided  by  his 
gracious  Spirit,  continue  to  be  watchful  shepherds  of 
the  flocks  committed  to  your  charge,  and  maintain 
the  doctrines  and  discipline  of  his  excellent  Church 
with  constancy  and  zeal,  and  at  the  same  time  with 
candour  towards  those  who  differ  from  us  in  religious 
opinions,  that  our  moderation  may  be  made  manifest, 
and  we  may  joyfully  contribute  to  that  peace,  love  and 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  209 

charity,  which  are  so  strongly  enforced  in  the  Gospel 
of  our  blessed  Redeemer. 

"  '  Deeply  sensible  of  my  own  imperfections,  I  feel 
with  solicitude  the  weight  of  the  important  office  to 
which  I  am  consecrated.  I  rely  only  on  the  grace  of 
God  to  enable  me  to  discharge  my  pastoral  duties 
with  fidelity,  to  be  instrumental  in  promoting  true 
religion  and  virtue,  in  governing  this  Church  in  peace 
and  unanimity,  and  laying  a  sure  foundation  for  its 
lasting  prosperity,  that  thus,  through  his  Divine  pro- 
tection, your  expectations  of  my  usefulness  may  not 
be  disappointed. 

K  '  And  now,  unto  God's  gracious  mercy  and  pro- 
tection I  commit  you ;  the  Lord  bless  you  and  keep  you ; 
the  Lord  make  his  face  to  shine  upon  you,  and  be 
gracious  unto  you  5  the  Lord  lift  up  his  countenance 
upon  you,  and  give  you  peace  both  now  and  ever- 
more.' 

"  A  standing  committee  was  elected  by  the  Con- 
vention to  advise  with  the  Bishop  in  all  matters  apper- 
taining to  his  office  in  which  he  might  think  proper 
to  consult  them. 

"  The  Congress  under  the  old  confederation  termi- 
nated in  1789.  By  the  organization  of  a  new  Con- 
gress, under  the  present  constitution,  Bishop  Provoost 
was  now  elected  Chaplain  to  the  Senate  of  the  United 
States.  Bishop  Provoost  continued  as  Rector  for 
nearly  seventeen  years.  Mrs.  Provoost,  after  a  long 
and  lingering  illness,  departed  this  life  in  August, 
1799  5  in  the  ensuing  July,  he  followed  to  the  grave 
his  younger  and  favourite  son,  who  died  a  very  dis- 
tressing death  5  and  he  was  made  very  unhappy  by 


210  HISTORY    OF 

the  conduct  of  his  only  surviving  son.  In  the  mean- 
time his  own  health  had  been  and  continued  to  be 
seriously  impaired,  and  he  was  induced  on  the  suc- 
ceeding 8th  of  September,  1800,  to  retire  from  Trinity 
Church  as  Rector. 

"  In  taking  leave  of  the  congregations,  he  preached 
from  the  text  contained  in  the  27th  verse  of  the  1st 
chapter  of  the  Philippians. 

u  His  exercise  of  the  Episcopal  office  continued  till 
the  3d  of  September,  1801.  The  Convention  was 
then  in  session,  over  which  he  presided  till  the  moment 
he  made  his  resignation  verbally,  and  left  the  Con- 
vention. The  resignation  was  accepted,  and  a  succes- 
sor was  chosen,  and  on  the  seventh  of  the  same  month 
Bishop  Provoost  addressed  a  letter  to  Bishop  White, 
as  President  of  the  House  of  Bishops,  as  the  General 
Convention  was  to  be  held  in  Trenton,  New-Jersey, 
next  day.  In  this  letter  he  says,  'That,  induced  by 
ill  health,  and  some  melancholy  occurrences  in  my 
family,  and  an  ardent  wish  to  retire  from  all  public 
employment,  I  resigned,  at  the  late  meeting  of  our 
Convention,  my  jurisdiction  as  Bishop  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  the  State  of  New-York.' 

"  When  the  letter  was  considered  by  the  House  of 
Bishops,  they  resolved,  among  other  things,  '  that  they 
judged  it  to  be  inconsistent  with  the  sacred  trust  com- 
mitted to  them,  to  recognize  the  Bishop's  act,  as  an 
effectual  resignation  of  his  Episcopal  jurisdiction  ;  and 
though  the  Bishops  were,'  as  they  say  in  the  same 
resolution,  c  ready  to  consecrate  a  person  to  render 
him  competent  in  point  of  character  to  all  the  Epis- 
copal duties,  this  house,'  they  say,  c  must  be  understood 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  211 

to  be  explicit  in  their  declaration,  that  they  should 
consider  such  person  as  assistant  or  coadjutor  Bishop 
during  Bishop  Provoosfs  life.'  This,  with  Bishop 
Provoost's  letter,  was  communicated  to  the  House  of 
Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies,  who  now  signed  the  testi- 
monials of  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Moore,  the  elected 
successor  of  Bishop  Provoost,  which  testimonials,  with 
the  proceedings  of  the  New-York  Convention,  were 
sent  to  the  House  of  Bishops,  and  the  Bishop  elect 
was  consecrated. 

"  The  first  consecration  of  a  Bishop  in  which 
Bishop  Provoost  took  part,  was  that  of  the  Rev. 
Thomas  John  Claggett,  for  the  Church  in  the  State 
of  Maryland,  being  the  first  of  that  order  of  the  min- 
istry consecrated  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  It  took 
place  the  17th  of  September,  1792,  in  Trinity  Church 
in  the  city  of  New-York,  during  a  session  of  the 
General  Convention.  Bishop  Provoost  was  the  con- 
secrator,  (also  President  of  the  House  of  Bishops,) 
Bishop  White  of  Pennsylvania,  Bishop  Madison  of 
Virginia,  and  Bishop  Seabury  of  Connecticut,  joined 
in  the  imposition  of  hands.  Bishop  Provoost's  last 
act  in  conferring  the  Episcopate,  was  in  uniting  with 
Bishop  White  the  consecrator,  and  Bishop  Jarvis  of 
Connecticut,  in  the  imposition  of  hands,  at  the  conse- 
cration of  the  Rev.  John  Henry  Hobart,  D.D.,  for  the 
Diocese  of  New-York,  and  the  Rev.  Alexander  Viets 
Griswold,  for  the  Eastern  Diocese,  on  the  29th  day  of 
May,  1811,  in  the  Church  as  aforesaid. 

a  His  first  ordination  was  the  admitting  to  the  order 
of  Deacon  Richard  Channing  Moore,  on  the  15th  of 
July,    1787,  in  St.  George's  Chapel,  in  the    city  of 


212  HISTORY    OF 

New-York.  His  last  ordination  was  the  admitting  to 
the  Priesthood  the  Rev.  John  Henry  Hobart,  D.D., 
in  April,  1801,  in  Trinity  Church,  in  said  city. 

"  The  first  foundation  or  corner-stone  laid  by  Bishop 
Provoost,  was  at  the  rebuilding  of  Trinity  Church,  in 
the  city  of  New-York,  on  the  21st  of  August,  1788. 
The  last  time  he  performed  this  ceremony,  was  on  the 
building  of  St.  Mark's  Church  in  said  city,  the  25th 
of  April,  1795. 

"  These  edifices,  when  ready  for  public  worship, 
were  the  first  and  last  by  him  consecrated  to  the  ser- 
vice of  Almighty  God  \  the  former  on  the  25th  of 
March,  1790,  the  latter  on  the  9th  of  May,  1799. 

"He  suffered  occasional  attacks  of  an  apopletic 
character,  and  died  very  suddenly  of  one  of  these  fits, 
on  the  6th  of  September,  1815,  aged  73  years  and  six 
months. 

"  His  funeral  was  numerously  and  respectably 
attended  to  Trinity  Church,  where  the  Psalms  and 
lesson  were  read  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Y.  How,  Assis- 
tant Minister  in  that  church;  the  sermon  preached 
by  the  Rev.  William  Harris,  Rector  of  St.  Mark's 
Church  5  and  the  sentences  and  prayers  at  the  place 
of  interment,  (the  family  vault  in  the  church- yard,) 
read  by  the  Rev.  Cave  Jones. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Convention,  Bishop  Hobart,  in 
his  annual  address,  alluding  to  the  departed  Bishop, 
said :  "  To  the  benevolence  and  urbanity  that  marked 
all  his  intercourse  with  the  clergy,  and  indeed  every 
social  relation,  there  is  strong  and  universal  testi- 
mony," and  then  added  the  words  of  Bishop  White  in 
regard  to  his  official  and  personal  intimacy  with  the 


TRINITY   CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  213 

deceased  Bishop,  calling  it  a  sacred  relation  u  between 
two  persons,  who  under  the  appointment  of  a  Christian 
Church  had  been  successfully  engaged  together  in  ob- 
taining for  it  succession  to  the  apostolic  office  of  the 
Episcopacy,  who  in  the  subsequent  exercise  of  that 
Episcopacy  had  jointly  laboured  in  all  the  ecclesias- 
tical business  which  has  occurred  among  us,  and  who 
through  the  whole  of  it  never  knew  a  word,  or  even 
a  sensation,  tending  to  personal  dissatisfaction  or  dis- 
union. 

"  The  character  of  Bishop  Provoost  is  one  which 
the  enlightened  Christian  will  estimate  at  no  ordinary 
standard.  The  generous  sympathies  of  his  nature 
created  in  him  a  cordial  concern  in  whatever  affected 
the  interests  of  his  fellow-creatures.  Hence  his  bene- 
ficence was  called  into  almost  daily  exercise,  and  his 
private  charities  were  often  beyond  what  was  justified 
by  his  actual  means.  In  the  relations  of  husband  and 
parent,  he  exhibited  all  the  kindly  and  endearing  affec- 
tions which  ennoble  our  species.  As  a  patriot,  he 
was  exceeded  by  none.  As  a  scholar,  he  was 
deeply  versed  in  classical  lore,  and  in  the  records 
of  Ecclesiastical  History  and  Church  Polity.  To  a 
very  accurate  knowledge  of  the  Hebrew,  he  added  a 
profound  acquaintance  with  the  Greek,  Latin,  French, 
German,  Italian,  and  other  languages.  He  had 
made  considerable  progress  also  in  the  natural  and 
physical  sciences,  of  which  botany  was  his  favourite 
branch." 


CHAPTER   V. 

On  the  resignation  of  Bishop  Provoost,  Mr.  Watts 
was  called  to  the  chair,  and  the  Rev.  Benjamin 
Moore,  D.D.,  was  chosen  in  his  place.* 

"  His  election  having  been  announced  to  him  by  a 
committee  appointed  for  the  purpose,  and  his  accept- 
ance of  the  Rectorship  having  been  declared  to  the 
Board  on  whom  he  attended,  he  was  duly  inducted 
into  the  Church  in  the  presence  of  Thomas  Collister 
and  William  G.  Forbes,  by  delivering  to  him  the  key 
of  the  Church. 

At  the  next  meeting  of  the  Vestry,  it  having  been 
thought  expedient  to  call,  without  delay,  another 
Assistant  Minister,  the  Rector  nominated  the  Rev. 
Cave  Jones  as  a  proper  person  for  the  office,  which 
nomination  was  thereupon  approved.  The  committee 
selected  to  inform  him  of  his  appointment,  soon  after 
submitted  a  letter  from  him,  written  at  Accomack,  his 
residence  in  Virginia,  signifying  his  acceptance  of 
the  same.     The  treasurer  was  ordered  to  pay  to  Mr. 


*  Seventeen  years  after  his  appointment  to  the  same  office,  which 
an  unexpected  change  of  circumstances  had  prevented  him  from 
filling. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  215 

Jones  one  hundred  pounds,  the  same  donation  as  that 
which  was  granted  to  Mr.  Hobart,  as  a  compensation 
for  his  expenses  in  removing  to  this  city  j  and  on  a 
subsequent  occasion,  the  sum  of  £220,  in  considera- 
tion of  losses  which  he  had  sustained,  but  which  are 
not  particularly  described  in  the  minutes. 

From  the  rapid  growth  of  the  city,  as  well  as  from 
a  regard  to  the  advantage  of  this  corporation,  the 
committee  of  leases  was  instructed,  so  early  as  1792, 
to  examine  and  report  what  part  of  the  land  belonging 
to  it  ought  to  be  reserved  for  (another  Church,)  Par- 
sonage, School  House,  Burial-ground,  and  other  pub- 
lic purposes ;  and  also  to  report  a  plan  for  widening 
the  streets  laid  out  in  the  Church  Farm  to  the  north- 
ward of  Warren-street,  and  making  such  other 
improvements  in  that  part  of  the  Church  estate  as 
might  conduce  to  the  interest  of  this  corporation  and 
the  ornament  of  the  city. 

So  far  as  the  building  of  a  new  Church  was  con- 
cerned, the  further  consideration  of  the  subject  seems 
to  have  slumbered  for  several  years.  In  1802,  how- 
ever, it  was  once  more  revived,  for  a  resolution  was 
passed  by  the  Vestry  that  a  room  should  be  hired  by 
the  Rector  for  the  assembling  of  persons  to  attend 
public  worship,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Brannon- 
street,  and  that  benches  be  provided  for  such  assem- 
bly. The  many  respectable  applicants  for  pews,  who 
could  not  be  furnished  with  them  in  the  existing 
churches,  made  it  expedient  that  another  one  should 
be  built,  and  a  committee  was  therefore  appointed  in 
reference  to  it,  and  authorized  to  inquire  and  select  a 
suitable  site  for  the  same. 


216  HISTORY    OF 

The  first  situation  proposed  by  the  committee  of 
leases,  was  on  the  square  formed  by  Duane,  Green- 
wich, Hudson  and  Jay  streets.  It  was  intended  that 
the  church  should  face  on  Duane-street,  and  it  was 
ordered  that  a  plan  of  the  same  should  be  prepared 
and  reported  at  the  meeting  of  the  Vestry  on  the 
7th  of  April,  1803,  in  order  to  commence  the  build- 
ing of  it  immediately.  At  this  meeting  several  plans 
were  laid  before  the  Board  for  their  consideration, 
and  the  one  recommended  by  the  committee,  drawn 
by  John  and  Isaac  McComb,  was  that  which  was 
approved  of.  It  having  been  suggested,  however,  to 
the  committee,  that  a  part  of  the  ground  upon  which 
it  was  intended  to  build  the  new  church  might  require 
the  driving  of  piles  to  render  it  safe,  they  were  re- 
quested to  examine  it,  and  if  they  should  find  that  the 
representation  were  correct,  they  were  to  desist  from 
the  work  until  the  sense  of  the  Board  should  be  taken. 
The  examination  having  been  made,  and  the  result 
found  unsatisfactory,  the  committee  reported  that  it 
Would  be  improper,  from  the  nature  of  the  ground,  to 
erect  a  church  on  the  spot  contemplated.  It  was 
therefore  finally  resolved,  that  it  should  be  built  on 
the  east  side  of  Hudson  Square,  the  site  on  which  St. 
John's  now  stands,  and  that  they  should  proceed  forth- 
with to  lay  the  foundation  thereof. 

This  was  on  the  very  verge  of  a  place  as  unsuitable 
as  possible  for  a  substantial  edifice.  It  was  probably 
in  view  of  this  difficulty  that  the  Vestry  made  an  order 
in  the  following  year,  that  the  committee  of  leases 
should  have  the  pond  filled  up  on  the  east  side  of  Lis- 
penard's  garden,  which  was  in  the  immediate  neigh- 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  217 

bourhood  of  the  situation  proposed  for  St.  John's 
Church.  Indeed,  it  would  be  almost  incredible  to  the 
persons  of  the  present  generation,  to  hear  from  those 
who  are  older,  their  recollections  of  the  past  in  regard 
to  this  quarter  of  the  city.  It  was  a  wild  and  marshy 
spot  of  no  inconsiderable  extent,  surrounded  with 
bushes  and  bulrushes,  which  in  winter  was  a  favourite 
place  for  skaters,  and  at  certain  seasons  for  gunners, 
and  where  in  my  boyhood  I  have  seen  snakes  that  were 
killed  on  its  borders.  Indeed,  even  so  late  as  1808,  it 
was  only  so  partially  filled  up  and  reclaimed  by  the 
elevation  of  the  grounds  for  the  course  of  streets,  and 
the  consequent  multiplication  of  ponds  in  various 
directions,  as  to  have  been  the  occasion  at  night  of 
many  a  sad  disaster,  and  a  frequent  loss  of  human 
life. 

A  curious  anecdote  was  related  to  me  by  an  old 
and  respectable  parishioner  of  Trinity  Church,*  with 
respect  to  the  estimation  in  which  this  land  was  held. 
An  uncle  of  his,f  who  was  a  trustee  of  one  of  the 
Lutheran  churches  in  this  city,  and  who  was  remark- 
ably fond  of  antiquarian  research,  in  looking  over  the 
former  minutes  of  the  Board,  found  an  entry  to  the 
following  effect.  Some  well-disposed  individual  had 
offered  to  the  trustees  of  this  church  a  present  of  a 
plot  of  ground,  containing  about  six  acres,  near  to  the 
head  of  Canal-street  and  Broadway.  They  passed  a 
resolution,  however,  that  it  was  inexpedient  to  accept 
the  gift,  inasmuch  as  the  land  was  not  worth  the  fen- 
cing in. 


*  Mr.  David  Lydig.  +  Mr.  David  Grim. 

14 


218  HISTORY    OF 

The  building  of  St.  John's  Chapel  was  commenced 
in  1803,  and  it  was  completed  in  1807.  It  is  in  many 
respects  a  beautiful  edifice^  but  much  more  costly 
than  would  be  generally  supposed.  Whether  there 
was  any  mismanagement  in  the  prosecution  of  the 
work,  or  whether  the  time  in  which  it  was  built  was 
unfavourable  to  economy,  is  at  this  day  very  difficult 
to  determine.  But  the  expense  of  it,  without  the 
organ,  which  was  ordered  at  Philadelphia  for  $6000, 
just  before  the  last  war  with  England,  and  which 
being  unfortunately  captured  by  one  of  the  British 
cruisers,  cost  $2000  more  to  redeem  it,  amounted  to 
the  enormous  sum  of  $172,833  64-100. 

The  church  was  consecrated  by  Bishop  Moore,  in 
1807,  on  which  occasion  I  was  present,  and  the  ser- 
mon was  preached  by  that  noble  man  and  powerful 
writer,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wilkins,  the  friend  of  Seabury 
and  Chandler,  who,  long  surviving  them,  connecting  in 
a  most  interesting  manner  a  new  order  of  things  with 
generations  that  were  past. 

The  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  forever  anxious  to 
discharge  the  high  trust  which  in  the  providence  of 
God  had  been  committed  to  them,  proposed  a  plan, 
on  the  16th  of  August,  1802,  for  instituting  a  Society 
for  the  promotion  of  Religion  and  Learning,  which 
after  having  been  read  and  considered  was  agreed  to, 
and  the  following  trustees  were  appointed  :  The  Rev, 
Drs.  Beach  and  Bowden,  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Hobart, 
Jones,  Harris  and  Pilmorej  Dr.  John  Charlton,  Peter 
Kemble,  Robert  Watts,  John  Onderdonk,  Frederick 
De  Peyster,  Richard  Harison,  Jacob  LeRoy,  Francis 


' 


SfWSESJg    ©3B_CAiP2I2Lo 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  219 

B.  Winthrop,  Matthew  Clarkson,  Herman  LeRoy, 
William  Jauncey,  William  M.  Scton,  Martin  Hoffman 
and  John  Jones. 

It  was  resolved  at  the  same  time,  that  the  commit- 
tee of  leases  should  consider  what  measures  should 
be  taken  towards  the  endowment  and  support  of  the 
said  Society,  and  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Vestry 
they  reported  that  the  following  lots  should  be  assigned 
to  it  for  the  purpose  : 
10  on  Hudson-street, 

6  on  Beach-street,  and 

G  on  (North)  Moore-street,  making  in  all  22  lots, 
which  in  the  opinion  of  the  committee  would 
produce  at  that  time  Upwards  of  $1000  per  an- 
num, but  at  the  present  time  perhaps  threefold 
that  sum  5  and  they  further  recommended  that  one 
thousand  dollars  should  be  given  to  the  institution  for 
its  immediate  wants.  To  this  liberal  grant  they 
added  another  of  four  lots  more  on  Hudson-street, 
which  must  have  considerably  increased  its  annual 
income. 

The  following  were  the  objects  for  which  the  Society 
was  originally  established  : 

To  adopt  measures  in  order  to  ensure  a  sufficient 
number  and  succession  of  pious  and  learned  ministers 
of  the  Gospel,  attached  to  the  doctrines  and  discipline 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 

To  afford  assistance  to  such  young  men  as  are  of 
good  character  and  competent  abilities,  but  in  circum- 
stances which  do  not  admit  of  prosecuting  the  study 
of  divinity  without  aid. 


220  HISTORY    OF 

To  encourage  those  who  may  distinguish  them- 
selves by  extraordinary  attainments. 

To  receive  all  donations  for  pious  purposes,  and  to 
superintend  the  application  of  them. 

To  provide  funds  for  the  procuring  of  a  Theological 
Library  5  for  the  establishment  of  schools  5  and  of  one 
or  more  fellowships  in  Columbia  College. 

And,  in  a  word,  to  pursue  a  system  of  measures, 
whereby  the  situation  of  the  Clergy  may  be  rendered 
respectable,  the  Church  obtain  a  permanent  support, 
and  learning  and  piety  be  generally  diffused  through- 
out the  State. 

The  plan  of  the  Institution  was  evidently  too  large 
for  its  limited  means,  however  sanguine  the  hopes  of 
their  increase  from  its  original  endowment.  But,  in 
order  to  meet  the  views  of  the  Founders,  in  some 
degree  at  least,  these  means  were  from  time  to  time 
considerably  enlarged.  In  1805,  it  was  resolved  to 
purchase  for  the  Society  the  lease  of  a  house  and  lot, 
in  Murray-street,  for  a  sum  not  exceeding  one  thou- 
sand pounds.  Other  sums  of  £1000,  £800,  and  £300, 
on  two  different  occasions,  were  granted  to  it  shortly 
after  its  establishment.  And  finally,  in  1808,  the  Ves- 
try bestowed  on  the  Society  6  more  lots  of  ground,  in 
Barclay,  Warren,  and  Greenwich  streets,  the  most 
valuable  portion  of  the  Church  Estate,  yielding  at  the 
time  a  yearly  rent  of  eight  hundred  and  twenty-five 
dollars ;  in  the  confident  hope  that  these  rents,  with 
their  other  funds,  would  afford  a  suitable  provision  for 
the  propagation  of  the  Gospel,  and  the  other  laudable 
purposes  for  which  it  was  founded. 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  221 

The  Institution  has  now  been  successfully  engaged 
in  the  discharge  of  its  duties  for  nearly  half  a  centu- 
ry ;  and  though  time  and  circumstances  have,  in  some 
of  the  details,  occasionally  modified  its  operations,  yet 
the  main  features  of  the  original  plan  for  promoting 
religion  and  learning  have  been  kept  steadily  in  view, 
and  the  lavish  bounty  of  Trinity  Church  has  made  it 
the  instrument  of  incalculable  good. 

A  memorial  of  John  Boonen  Graves,  and  a  number 
of  other  respectable  members  of  the  Congregation, 
was  presented  to  the  Vestry  in  1804,  requesting  a  new 
church,  to  be  built  South  and  West  of  St.  Paul's.  Mr. 
Watts,  Mr.  Le  Roy,  and  Mr.  Bayard,  were  appointed 
a  Committee  to  select  a  suitable  situation  for  the  pur- 
pose, and  to  purchase  the  ground.  They  shortly  after 
reported,  that  a  Committee  from  the  Lutheran  Con- 
gregation had  made  them  an  offer  of  their  property  in 
Broadway,  upon  a  perpetual  lease,  at  a  rent  of  £ 400 
per  annum,  the  consideration  of  which  report  was 
postponed. 

In  the  mean  time  other  lots  were  thought  of,  among 
which  was  one  owned  by  Mr.  Jay,  in  Broad-street,  and 
Mr.  Jacob  Le  Roy  was  requested  to  wait  on  Mr.  Jay, 
to  know  upon  what  terms  he  would  dispose  of  it ;  upon 
the  further  consideration  of  the  subject,  however,  the 
Board  were  of  opinion  that  this  lot  would  not  answer 
for  the  purpose  intended. 

Another  project  was  started,  which  was  not  a  little 
singular,  but  which  was  speedily  abandoned.  The 
Committee  were  instructed  to  enquire  of  Mr.  Harison, 
whether,  by  our  Charter  or  grant,  any  legal  objections 


222 


history  or 


existed  to  the  building  of  another  Church  in  Trinity 
Church  yard,  if  the  Corporation  should  see  fit  to  do  so. 

The  Committee  having  at  length  determined  on  the 
site  to  which  their  attention  had  been  first  directed, 
reported  to  the  Vestry,  that  they  had  conferred  with 
the  Trustees  of  the  Lutheran  Congregation,  who 
were  disposed  to  sell  the  reversion  in  fee  of  their  lot  in 
Broadway,  for  such  a  sum  as  would  yield  them  an 
interest  of  £400  per  annum,  the  Vestry  to  be  at  the 
expense  of  buying  the  lease  of  the  Hotel,  seven  years 
of  which  were  unexpired,  and  which  they  were  in- 
formed might  be  had  at  from  £1200  to  £1400. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting,  the  Committee,  after  due 
enquiry,  finally  reported,  that  they  could  have  the 
ground  in  question  on  the  following  terms :  Mr.  Hunt- 
er to  receive  £1500,  and  Mr.  Snow  £400,  for  a  sur- 
render of  their  leases,  and  the  Corporation  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  so  much  money  as  would  yield  an 
interest  of  £400  per  annum.  Whereupon  it  was  re- 
solved, that  the  Committee  should  make  the  purchase 
upon  the  terms  proposed,  it  being  understood  that 
seven  per  cent,  should  be  considered  as  the  rate  of  in- 
terest to  ascertain  the  sum  that  was  to  yield  the  £400 
per  annum,  which  would  amount  to  about  $  15,000. 

In  authorizing  this  purchase,  however,  the  Vestry 
declared  that  it  was  their  intention  that  the  ground 
should  be  bought  in  Trust  for  a  Protestant  Episcopal 
Corporation,  to  be  hereafter  instituted $  that  this  Board 
would  provide  for  paying  the  purchase  money,  but  did 
not  mean  to  have  any  estate  in  the  lot,  cither  in  law 
or  equity  5  and  they  recommended  to  the  Committee, 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  223 

to  have  it  conveyed  to  Trustees  until  such  Corporation 
should  be  organized.  And  it  was  further  resolved,  that 
the  Board  considered  Matthew  Clarkson,  Herman  Le 
Roy,  Peter  Schermerhorn,  Henry  Rogers,  and  Gulian 
Ludlow,  as  proper  persons  to  be  the  Trustees,  who 
were  afterwards  formally  nominated,  and,  as  it  appears, 
accepted  the  appointment. 

The  legal  arrangements  having  all  been  duly  made, 
the  Vestry,  at  their  meeting  on  the  14th  of  February, 
1805,  passed  a  resolution,  that  a  Church  should  be 
erected  on  the  ground  which  they  had  lately  purchas- 
ed j  that  the  Trustees  should  be  requested  to  present 
a  plan  or  plans  of  a  Church,  with  an  estimate,  to  this 
Board  for  their  approbation ;  and  that  Dr.  Onderdonk 
and  Mr.  Jones  should  be  a  Committee  to  wait  upon 
them  for  that  purpose.  The  plan  proposed,  which  was 
agreed  to  by  the  Board,  appears  to  have  been  that  of 
Mr.  West ;  and  Messrs.  King,  Rogers,  and  Bleecker, 
the  Committee  appointed  for  the  purpose,  were  invest- 
ed with  all  necessary  powers  for  carrying  it  into  effect, 
in  such  manner  as  they  should  see  fit. 

In  addition  to  the  outlay  of  £1500  to  Mr.  Hunter, 
and  £100  to  Mr.  Snow,  for  the  surrender  of  their 
leases,  and  $15,000  to  the  Trustees  of  the  Lutheran 
Congregation  for  the  reversion  in  fee  of  their  lot  in 
Broadway,  it  was  further  resolved  by  the  Vestry  of 
Trinity  Church,  that  the  lease  of  the  lot  of  ground  in 
the  rear  of  this  should  be  bought,  at  the  price  of  $1500, 
and  conveyed  in  fee  to  the  Trustees,  to  whom  the  ad- 
joining land  had  been  already  conveyed. 

For  these  several  acts  of  kindness  and  good-will,  a 


224  HISTORY    OF 

deputation  from  the  Vestry  of  Grace  Church,  in  1809} 
consisting  of  Messrs.  Nicholas  Low  and  Herman  Le 
Roy,  the  Church  Wardens,  and  David  B.  Ogden,  Esq., 
expressed  the  thanks  of  that  Church  to  this  Board  for 
their  liberality  towards  it  j  the  disposition  entertained 
by  the  members  of  it  to  promote  the  prosperity  of  this 
Corporation,  as  well  as  the  union  and  interests  of  the 
Church  in  general ;  and  a  readiness  to  pay  over  the 
money  arising  from  the  sales  of  pews  in  Grace  Church 
to  the  Treasurer  of  this  Board,  in  confidence  that  the 
Board  would  give  an  equivalent  in  real  estate  for  the 
same.  This  confidence  was  not  misplaced,  for  it  was 
forthwith 

Ordered,  by  the  Vestry,  that  the  Committee  of 
leases  should  make  a  selection  of  lots,  which  would 
afford  rent  in  proportion  to  their  probable  value,  to 
be  conveyed  to  the  use  of  the  said  Church,  upon  the 
usual  conditions,  when  the  Treasurer  should  receive 
the  said  money.  And  it  was  further  resolved,  that  the 
Church  Wardens  and  Mr.  Harison  should  be  a  Com- 
mittee, to  signify  to  the  Church  Wardens  and  Vestry 
of  Grace  Church  the  purport  of  the  above  resolution  5 
to  thank  them  for  their  favourable  disposition  towards 
this  Corporation,*  and  to  assure  them  that  it  would  at 
all  times  be  desirous  to  promote  the  interests  of  Grace 
Church,  and  co-operate  with  them  in  the  advancement 
of  true  religion. 

At  the  next  meeting  of  the  Vestry,  the  Committee 
of  leases  made  a  report,  recommending  that  the  fol- 
lowing lots  of  ground  be  conveyed  to  the  Corporation 
of  Grace  Church,  for  the  consideration  of  $30,000,  to 
be  by  them  paid  or  secured  to  this  Corporation. 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  225 

7  fronting  on  Rector-street, 


2 

« 

on  Vesey       u 

3 

U 

on  Barclay    u 

2 

a 

on  Warren    " 

5 

u 

on  Chambers-street, 

2 

u 

on  Church         "        and 

4 

u 

on  Rcade          "        In  all, 

25  lots. 

In  the  following  year,  1810,  upon  the  application  of 
the  Corporation  of  Grace  Church,  requesting,  as  the 
last  favour  that  they  should  solicit,  that  this  Corpora- 
tion would  pay  for  the  organ  then  building  for  that 
Church :  the  Board  thereupon  resolved,  that  they 
would  comply  with  this  request,  and  that  a  sum  not 
exceeding  $5000  should  be  appropriated  for  the  pur- 
pose. 

In  1812,  an  application  for  further  aid  was  received 
from  Grace  Church,  which  does  not  seem  to  have  been 
acted  upon  till  the  following  year,  when  an  assignment 
was  made  to  it  of  a  debt  due  to  this  Corporation, 
amounting,  with  interest,  to  $7320  50-100. 

And  finally,  upon  a  repetition  of  their  wish  for  fur- 
ther pecuniary  aid,  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church  were 
constrained  to  declare,  that  it  was  not  in  the  power  of 
this  Corporation  to  comply  with  their  request. 

In  1807,  the  Board  proceeded  to  the  election  of  an 
additional  assistant  minister,  when  the  Rev.  Nathan- 
iel Bowen,  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  was  duly 
chosen.  The  Rector  was  requested  to  inform  Mr. 
Bowen  of  his  election,  and  to  intimate  the  wish  of  this 
Corporation,  that,  if  he  should  accept  the  call,  he  would 


226 


HISTORY    OF 


remove  as  soon  as  his  convenience  would  permit,  and 
as  he  could  with  propriety  take  leave  of  his  present 
congregation.  In  the  following  Spring  a  letter  was 
received  from  him,  declining  the  invitation. 

A  short  time  after  he  was  elected  Rector  of  Grace 
Church.  This  appointment,  however  flattering,  was 
probably  accepted  with  some  feelings  of  reluctance. 
I  was  honoured  with  his  friendship  in  the  early  part 
of  my  ministry,  and  enjoyed  in  some  degree  his  confi- 
dence, as  well  as  his  regard,  and  was,  therefore,  ac- 
customed to  hear  him  talk  on  all  subjects  with  perfect 
freedom.  There  was  every  thing  in  his  position  to 
render  it  easy  and  pleasant  to  him,  yet  such  was  his 
attachment  to  the  manners,  habits,  and  character  of 
the  people  of  the  South,  as  to  make  it  evident,  from 
expressions  which  often  dropped  from  him,  that  he 
not  only  regretted  he  had  left  them,  but  yearned  for 
his  return.  This  longing,  a  few  years  after,  was  grati- 
fied, in  a  way  which  relieved  him  from  all  embarrass- 
ment in  the  indulgence  of  it,  for  he  was  elected  to  the 
Bishopric  of  South  Carolina,  under  circumstances 
which,  in  his  estimation,  made  it  his  duty  to  accept  it. 

In  consequence  of  Mr.  Bo  wen's  declining  to  accept 
the  appointment  in  Trinity  Church,  the  Rev.  James 
Chapman,  of  Elizabeth  Town,  was  called  for  six 
months,  and  on  the  expiration  of  this  term,  he  was 
requested  to  continue  his  services  for  the  period  of  six 
months  longer. 

On  the  14th  of  July,  1808,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Y.  How 
was  duly  chosen  an  Assistant  Minister  in  the  Parish. 
He  was  an  accomplished  scholar,  a  sound  divine,  and 
a  clear  and  forcible  reasoner.     He,  therefore,  rose  ra- 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  227 

pidly  in  his  profession,  received  the  degree  of  Doctor 
in  Divinity,  as  one  who  had  earned  the  honour  by  his 
masterly  management  of  the  controversies  in  which 
he  was  engaged  ;  and  in  1816,  he  was  elected  Assistant 
Rector  of  Trinity  Church. 

But  Dr.  How  did  not  merely  succeed  as  an  able 
polemic,  but  was  equally  admired  as  an  eloquent 
preacher.  He  was  a  man  of  noble  mien,  of  piercing 
eye,  and  commanding  presence.  His  voice  was  clear 
and  powerful,  his  elocution  admirable,  and  almost  per- 
fect, his  gesture  natural  and  impressive,  and  his  ser- 
mons were  the  ripe  fruits  of  a  well  cultivated  mind,  on 
which  he  bestowed  the  greatest  labour,  and  the  whole 
force  of  his  intellect. 

But  alas !  why  dwell  on  his  eminent  gifts,  his  ex- 
tensive acquirements,  his  commanding  eloquence,  his 
wide-spread  fame.  In  the  full  career  of  usefulness  and 
honour,  this  great  man  fell,  wringing  the  hearts  of  his 
friends  with  anguish,  and  filling  the  minds  of  all  good 
men  with  astonishment  and  grief.  But,  though  we 
can  never  cease  to  lament  the  dishonour  which  was 
brought  on  the  Church  which  he  had  before  so  sue- 
cessfully  defended,  and  for  a  short  time,  at  least,  so 
greatly  adorned ;  it  will  be  to  many  a  gratification  to 
learn,  that  in  the  neighborhood  where  he  lives,  and 
where  he  was  best  known  in  his  earlier  days,  he  has 
regained  in  his  old  age  the  respect  which  he  had  lost, 
and  that  he  now  leads  a  devout  and  exemplary  life. 

In  1810,  a  committee  was  appointed,  consisting  of 
Mr.  Harison,  Mr.  Van  Wagenen,  and  Mr.  Clarkson, 
to  take  into  consideration  a  letter  from  Dr.  Hobart, 
the  Secretary  of  the  State  Convention,  requesting  aid 


228  HISTORY    OF 

from  this  Corporation  for  the  benefit  of  the  Episcopal 
Fund.  The  subject  seems  to  have  been  very  mature- 
ly revolved  in  the  minds  of  the  committee,  for  they  did 
not  make  their  report  to  the  Vestry  till  1812,  which 
was  in  the  following  words : 

u  The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  a  letter  from 
the  Secretary  of  the  Convention,  in  1810,  requesting 
aid  for  the  benefit  of  the  Episcopal  Fund,  have  taken 
the  subject  therein  mentioned  into  their  serious  con- 
sideration j  and  being  deeply  impressed  with  the  im- 
portance of  placing  the  Episcopal  office,  as  soon  as 
may  be,  in  a  state  of  respectable  independence,  and 
with  the  necessity  of  making  some  provision,  in  the 
meantime,  towards  the  competent  support  of  the  Bish- 
op upon  whom  the  active  duties  of  that  sacred  office 
have  devolved,  do  respectfully  report,  that  the  sum  of 
$  15,000  should  with  all  convenient  speed  be  raised, 
and  paid  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  Episcopal  Fund,  in 
aid  of  the  same.  But  inasmuch  as  the  moneys  of  that 
Fund  are  directed  by  one  of  the  canons  of  the  Church 
to  be  kept  in  a  course  of  accumulation,  until  they 
amount  to  a  certain  sum,  which  may  not  be  completed 
in  a  number  of  years;  and  inasmuch,  also,  as  from  the 
office  of  Assistant  Bishop  being  conferred  upon  a  per- 
son not  holding  that  of  Rector  of  Trinity  Church, 
some  immediate  provision  should  be  made,  to  enable 
the  Assistant  Bishop  to  support  the  expenses  incident 
to  his  situation,  and  to  the  duties  which  it  requires, 
the  committee  further  recommend,  that  the  house  late- 
ly occupied  by  the  Right  Rev.  Rector  of  this  Church, 
be  appropriated  to  the  use  of  the  Assistant  Bishop  du- 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  229 

ring  the  pleasure  of  this  Corporation ;  and  that  the 
grant  above  recommended,  be  upon  the  express  con- 
dition that  there  be  allowed  and  paid  to  the  present 
Assistant  Bishop,  (whether  he  shall  continue  such  or 
become  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese,)  and  to  such  per- 
son as  shall  in  future  be  the  acting  Bishop,  out  of  the 
interest  of  the  said  $15,000,  the  sum  of  $500  annually, 
until  such  time  as  the  State  Convention  and  this  Cor- 
poration shall  otherwise  direct. 

"  (Signed,)  tt  Richard  Harison, 

"David  M.  Clarkson, 
"Robt.  Troup." 

Which  report  being  read  and  considered,  it  was 
therefore  ordered  that  the  same  be  accepted  and  con- 
firmed. 

A  few  years  after,  in  1817,  a  letter  was  read,  address- 
ed to  the  Vestry  by  Peter  Jay  Munro  and  Garrit  H. 
Van  Wagenen,  Esqs.,  a  committee  appointed  at  the  last 
Annual  Convention  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  this  State,  requesting  information  as  to  an 
intended  appropriation  by  this  Corporation  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Episcopal  Fund,  and  also  enquiring 
what  payments  have  been  made  by  them  to  the  Bishop 
of  the  Diocese,  in  his  Episcopal  character. 

It  was  therefore  "  Resolved,  That  the  clerk  of  this 
Board  inform  the  said  committee,  that  the  pecuniary 
means  of  Trinity  Church  not  having  yet  enabled  the 
Vestry  to  carry  into  effect  any  plan  for  the  increase  of 
the  Episcopal  Fund,  and  it  being  wholly  uncertain 
when,  if  at  all,  it  may  be  practicable  to  accomplish  that 
object,  the  Vestry  have  not  heretofore  deemed  it  pro- 


230  HISTORY  OF 

per,  or  useful,  to  make  any  communication  on  the  sub- 
ject to  the  Convention  $  and  the  same  considerations, 
in  their  judgment,  render  such  a  communication  inex- 
pedient at  the  present  time. 

"Resolved,  Further,  That  the  clerk  also  inform  the 
committee,  that  the  allowances  granted  by  the  Vestry 
to  the  Rector  of  Trinity  Church,  in  consideration  of 
the  expenses  incident  to  the  exercise  of  the  duties  of 
the  Episcopal  office,  are  made  from  time  to  time,  with- 
out reference  to  any  permanent  appropriation  in  aid  of 
the  Episcopal  Fund." 

There  are  many  instances  of  liberality  and  public 
spirit,  recorded  at  various  times,  in  the  minutes  of  the 
Vestry. 

In  1810,  upon  application  of  the  Trustees  of  the 
Free  School  Society  of  New-York,  praying  for  a  grant 
of  the  ground  requisite  for  erecting  a  building,  for  the 
purposes  of  that  institution,  on  the  west  side  of  the 
city,  it  was  ordered  that  two  lots  of  land  should  be  ap- 
propriated for  that  purpose,  and  that  the  Committee 
of  Leases  should  select  and  report  the  lots  proper  to 
be  granted.  The  ground  chosen  by  the  committee 
was  bounded  to  the  westward  by  Hudson-street,  and 
to  the  northward  by  Christopher-street.  The  recom- 
mendation was  agreed  to  by  the  Board,  and  a  proper 
deed  was  ordered  to  be  executed.  A  letter  was  re- 
ceived, at  the  same  time,  from  the  Trustees,  express- 
ing the  thanks  of  the  Society  for  this  valuable  gift. 

A  few  years  after,  in  1815,  another  application  was 
made  by  the  same  Trustees,  for  an  additional  grant  of 
ground.  The  matter  was  again  referred  to  a  commit- 
tee, who  having  duly  considered  it,  reported  in  favor 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW- YORK.  231 

of  the  application.  It  was  thereupon  ordered  that  the 
grant  should  be  extended,  according  to  the  request 
of  the  Trustees,  so  as  to  include  all  the  Church  land 
on  the  east  side  of  Hudson-street,  between  Columbia 
and  Christopher  streets,  and  that  the  Clerk  should 
affix  the  corporate  seal  to  a  proper  conveyance  for 
the  same. 

For  this  new  favor,  a  letter  was  presented  to  the 
Vestry,  from  the  Trustees  of  the  Free  School  Society, 
in  the  following  words: 

"  New- York,  10th  May,  1815. 
"  Gentlemen  : 

"The  Trustees  of  the  Free  School  Society  of 
New-York  would  do  injustice  to  their  feelings,  were 
they  not,  in  addition  to  their  public  acknowledgment, 
to  express  to  you  in  a  more  direct  form  their  high 
sense  of  your  liberality,  charity,  and  public  spirit,  in 
appropriating  the  valuable  grounds  on  Christopher, 
Columbia,  and  Hudson  streets,  for  the  purpose  of  dis- 
pensing the  benefits  of  Education  to  the  poor  of  this 
city. 

"As  long  as  benevolence  shall  be  considered  a  vir- 
tue, and  knowledge  a  blessing,  this  act  will  com- 
mand the  approbation  of  all  good  men. 

"  I  am,  in  behalf  of  the  Trustees,  very  respectfullv, 
your  most  obedient  servant, 

"  De  Witt  Clinton,  Prest. 

"  To  the  Rector,  Churchwardens,  and  Vestrymen 
of  Trinity  Church." 


In  1812,  an  application  was  made  to  the  Vestry,  by 
several  of  the  inhabitants  of  Greenwich,  for  a  grant  of 
land  for  a  public  market.     The  committee  which  was 


232  history  or 

appointed  in  reference  to  this  subject,  shortly  after 
made  their  report,  recommending  that  a  piece  of 
ground,  to  be  bounded  northwardly  on  Christopher 
street,  to  extend  from  Greenwich  to  Washington- 
street,  and  having  a  front  on  each  of  fifty  feet,  be 
granted  for  that  purpose  to  the  City  Corporation,  on 
certain  conditions  specified  in  the  said  report.  It  was 
therefore  ordered,  that  the  report  should  be  accepted, 
and  that  the  Clerk  should  affix  the  seal  to  such  grant, 
upon  receiving  a  covenant  from  the  City  Corporation 
for  the  performance  of  such  conditions. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1811,  Bishop  Moore  was 
stricken  with  paralysis,  from  which,  though  he  lived 
several  years  afterwards,  he  never  recovered.  On  the 
13th  of  March,  in  the  same  year,  the  Rector  nomina- 
ted Dr.  Beach  to  be  his  Assistant,  which  nomination 
being  approved  and  confirmed  by  the  Churchwardens, 
and  a  majority  of  the  Vestry,  he  was  appointed  ac- 
cordingly. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Corporation  in  the  month  of  May, 
the  Assistant  Rector  laid  before  the  Board  the  follow- 
ing letter  from  the  Rev.  John  Henry  Hobart,  D.D. : 

"  To  the  Rev.  Dr.  Beach  : 

"Whereas  the  Right  Rev.  Benjamin  Moore,  D.D., 
Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
State  of  New-York,  hath  caused  a  letter  to  be  address- 
ed to  the  Secretary  of  the  Convention  of  the  said 
Church,  which  letter  is  in  the  words  following : 

"  Rev.  Sir  : 

"The  severe  affliction  with  which  it  hath  pleased 
Almighty  God  to  visit  me,  has  affected  my  state  of 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  233 

health  in  such  a  manner,  that  it  will  be  impossible  for 
me,  without  assistance,  to  perform  the  duties  of  the 
Episcopal  office.  I  am  therefore  anxious  that  a  spe- 
cial convention  should  be  called,  for  the  purpose  of 
deliberating  on  the  propriety  of  appointing  an  Assist- 
ant Bishop  in  this  Diocese.  A  variety  of  considera- 
tions, affecting  the  most  important  interests  of  our  holy 
Church,  appear  to  me  to  render  that  measure  indis- 
pensable. And  it  is,  I  think,  very  desirable  that  the 
appointment  should  be  made  without  delay,  so  that  the 
consecration  may  take  place  at  the  ensuing  General 
Convention.  You  will  therefore  be  so  good  as  to  take 
the  necessary  steps  for  calling  a  special  convention  of 
the  Church  in  this  Diocese,  to  meet  in  the  city  of  Ncw- 
York,  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  May  next. 

"  Praying  sincerely  that  all  our  undertakings  may, 
by  Divine  Providence,  be  guided  in  such  a  way  as  may 
best  conduce  to  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  good  of  His 
Church,  I  remain,  with  affection  and  esteem,  Rev.  Sir, 
your  friend  and  father  in  the  Lord, 

"  Benjamin  Moore, 

"  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
in  the  State  of  New-York, 

"By  his  son,  "Clement  C.  Moore. 

"  The  Rev.  John  Henry  Hobart,  D.  D.,  Secretary  of  the  Convention 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  State  of  New- York. 

"  Now,  therefore,  in  obedience  to  the  directions  of 
the  Bishop,  contained  in  the  above  Letter,  notice  is 
hereby  given,  that  a  special  Convention  of  the  Protest- 
ant Episcopal  Church,  in  the  State  of  New-York,  will 
be  held,  for  the  purpose  specified  in  the  letter  afore- 
said, in  the  City  of  New-York,  on  the  second  Tuesday 
15 


234  HISTORY    OF 

of  May  next,  at  10  o'clock,  A.  M.,  at  which  time  and 
place  the  Clergy  and  Lay  delegates  are  requested  to 
attend. 

"John  Henry  Hobart, 

"  Secretary  of  the  Convention. 
"New- York,  March  21st,  1811." 

"  Thereupon,  Resolved,  That  this  Board  do  now  pro- 
ceed to  the  appointment  of  delegates  to  the  said  Con- 
vention. Whereupon,  the  Board  having  proceeded 
to  such  appointment  by  ballot,  Messrs.  Rufus  King, 
Richard  Harison,  John  Onderdonk,  and  Thomas  L. 
Ogden,  were  duly  chosen." 

"I  now  come  to  a  painful  part  of  my  subject,  which 
could  not,  however,  be  passed  over  without  a  miscon- 
struction of  my  own  views,  and  some  injury,  perhaps, 
to  the  memory  of  Dr.  Hobart  ;  and  a  brief  notice  of 
which  may  not  be  without  its  bitter  and  wholesome  uses 
to  those  who,  on  light  and  trivial  grounds,  may  here- 
after be  disposed  to  disturb  the  peace  of  the  Church. 
When,  after  a  long  series  of  useful  labours,  and  a  con- 
stant exhibition  of  those  eminent  gifts  and  qualifica- 
tions which  fitted  him  for  a  station  of  honour  and 
power,  it  was  perceived  that  there  was  a  general  dis- 
position to  elevate  him  to  the  Episcopal  office,  from 
the  exercise  of  which  Bishop  Moore  had  withdrawn 
on  account  of  his  infirmities ;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jones,  who 
was  one  of  his  associates  in  Trinity  Church,  published 
a  pamphlet  against  him,  entitled  '  The  Solemn  Appeal,7 
with  the  design  and  hope  of  defeating  his  election.  It 
was  a  great  shock  to  public  feeling  \  exciting,  in  the 
first  instance,  universal  regret,  and  a  loud  burst  of 
indignation  against  the  author.     The  piece,  however, 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  235 

contained  such  charges  as  were  calculated  to  gratify 
the  malevolent  curiosity  of  some,  to  create  temporary 
prejudices  in  others  of  a  more  generous  cast,  and  to 
produce  in  a  few  who  had  no  previous  good-will  to- 
wards Dr.  Hobart,  a  groundless  and  lasting  dislike. 
The  Church  was  therefore  thrown  into  a  ferment 
Parties  were  formed  in  behalf  of  the  assailant  and  the 
assailed  5  and  many,  doubtless,  defended  the  one,  or 
vindicated  the  other,  with  more  warmth  and  violence 
than  became  the  gospel  of  peace  and  good  will.  An- 
other class,  who  were  of  a  quiet  and  pacific  temper, 
without  a  due  consideration  of  the  merits  of  the  case, 
condemned  them  both.  But  the  overwhelming  sense 
of  the  community  was  in  favour  of  the  accused.  Dr. 
Hobart,  for  years,  was  not  aware  of  the  unfriendly 
feelings  of  Mr.  Jones,  nor  was  he  fully  apprized  of  the 
extent  of  his  injurious  opinions,  and  his  deep-rooted 
hostility,  until  the  appearance  of  his  '  Solemn  Appeal.' 
The  subjects  of  complaint,  which,  in  some  cases  arose 
out  of  misapprehension,  or  which,  when  fairly  under- 
stood, were  of  the  most  trifling  nature,  may,  for  the 
most  part,  be  traced  to  the  different  temper  and  char- 
acter of  the  parties  themselves;  they  were  not  of  con- 
genial feelings,  dispositions,  and  habits,  those  elements 
of  harmony  and  love. 

"  It  has  seldom  happened  that  two  persons  have  been 
brought  into  so  close  a  relation  to  each  other,  who 
were  more  entirely  unlike,  than  Mr.  Jones  and  Dr, 
Hobart.  The  first  was  cold,  formal,  and  stately  in  his 
manners  ,•  the  last,  all  freedom,  cordiality,  and  warmth. 
The  one  was  sensitive,  suspicious,  and  reserved  5  the 
other  communicative,  frank,  and  confiding.     The  one 


236  history  of 

nurtured  resentment — kept  a  record  of  hasty  sallies  of 
feeling  and  unguarded  sayings,  and  magnified  infirmi- 
ties into  glaring  faults ;  the  other  never  received  an 
offence  without  seeking  at  once  to  have  it  explained, 
in  order  that  it  might  be  over  and  forgotten,  and  never 
gave  it  without  making  a  prompt  and  ample  atonement. 
It  is  not  surprising,  then,  that  there  should  have  been 
occasional  misunderstandings  between  them;  and 
these  divisions  were  not  easily  healed,  for  the  concili- 
atory spirit  of  the  one  was  not  always  met  with  a  cor- 
responding temper  in  the  other,  but  the  manner  was 
so  unkind,  and  the  exactions  so  rigorous,  as  to  leave 
nothing  to  the  generous  impulses  of  his  own  nature."* 

Shortly  after  the  appearance  of  this  pamphlet,  a 
Committee  was  appointed  to  take  it  into  considera- 
tion, and  to  make  their  report  at  the  next  meeting  of 
the  Vestry.  The  report,  which  was  an  admirable  one, 
was  in  the  following  words : — 

"  The  Committee  to  whom  it  was  referred  to  take 
into  consideration  a  late  publication  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Jones,  entitled  a  '  Solemn  Appeal  to  the  Church,'  have 
maturely  reflected  thereon. 

uThe  publication  in  question  appearing  to  relate  to 
matters,  the  cognizance  and  decision  of  which  exclu- 
sively belong  to  regular  tribunals  established  by  the 
canons  of  the  Church,  the  Committee  deem  it  improp- 
er to  present  those  matters  to  the  Vestry,  in  any  shape 
by  which  their  merits  may  elsewhere  be  made  the 
subject  of  discussion.      Nevertheless,  in  the  relation 


*  Memoir  of  the  Life  of  the  Right  Rev.  John  Henry  Hobart,  D.  D., 
by  myself,  pp.  128,  129,  130. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  237 

which  subsists  between  this  Corporation  and  the  jun- 
ior Assistant  Ministers  employed  by  it,  the  Committee 
deem  it  the  right  and  duty  of  the  Vestry  to  notice,  and 
as  occasion  may  require,  to  animadvert  upon  such  of 
the  public  acts  of  those  ministers,  as  may  be  calculated 
to  affect  the  peace  and  welfare  of  the  religious  com- 
munity with  which  they  are  united. 

"The  Committee,  having  in  this  view  considered  the 
subject  referred  to  them,  are  of  opinion,  that  the  pam- 
phlet lately  published  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jones,  calls  for 
the  serious  attention  of  this  Board. 

"  The  evident  tendency  of  appeals  to  the  public,  on 
the  subject  of  private  differences  between  ministers  of 
the  Gospel,  must,  in  all  cases,  be  to  weaken  the  rev- 
erence and  respect  justly  due  to  the  clerical  office ; 
to  destroy  its  influence ;  impair  the  discipline  and  go- 
vernment of  the  Church ;  and  to  bring  reproach  upon 
the  cause  of  religion. 

"  In  the  case  of  an  associated  ministry,  like  that  of 
Trinity  Church,  evils  more  immediate  and  pernicious 
are  to  be  apprehended,  inasmuch  as  the  people  will 
naturally  take  part  in  the  disputes  of  their  pastors  5 
their  own  passions  and  prejudices  will  be  brought  into 
the  contest  j  and  these  must  soon  banish  from  the  mind 
that  peace  and  good-will  which  can  alone  dispose  it  to 
the  reception  of  religious  instruction. 

"  That  a  course  obviously  involving  consequences  of 
such  deep  importance  to  the  character  and  welfare  of 
the  Church,  should  have  been  resorted  to  by  one  of 
her  ministers,  in  the  first  instance,  without  even  an 
experiment  of  the  efficacy  of  that  sanctioned  and  pre- 
scribed by  her  canons,  adds  to  the  grief  which  every 


238  HISTORY  OF 

reflecting  mind  must  feel  on  this  occasion,  and  leaves 
less  room  for  extenuation  than  might  exist  under  other 
circumstances. 

"  If  these  sentiments  should  receive  the  approbation 
of  the  Vestry,  the  Committee  beg  leave  to  recommend 
that  a  copy  of  this  report,  and  of  the  resolution  approv- 
ing it,  be  transmitted  to  the  Bishop,  and  another  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Jones. 

"(Signed,)  "  Rufus  King, 

"  Richard  Harison, 
"T.  L.  Ogden, 
u  Peter  Augustus  Jay, 
"  E.  W.  Laigiit. 

"13th  May,  1811." 

Which  report  being  read  and  considered,  it  was 
thereupon 

"  Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  same  be  accept- 
ed and  approved,  and  that  a  copy  thereof,  and  of  this 
resolution,  be  transmitted  to  the  Right  Reverend  Bish- 
op Moore,  and  also  to  the  Reverend  Mr.  Cave  Jones." 

After  this  forcible  and  solemn  expression  of  the 
opinions  of  the  Vestry,  it  was  soon  found  to  be  abso- 
lutely necessary  to  come  to  some  decided  action  on 
the  subject.  Their  proceedings  in  relation  to  it  are 
thus  recorded  in  the  minutes : — 

"  In  respect  to  the  disorderly  state  of  Trinity 
Church,  and  its  Chapels,  proceeding  from  the  misbe- 
haviour before  alluded  to,  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jones,  and 
which  became  the  subject  of  the  early  animad version 
of  the  Vestry,  the  Committee  are  constrained  to  de- 
clare, that,  in  their  opinion,  the  peace  of  the  Church 
cannot  be  re-established,  so  long  as  the  connection 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  239 

between  the  Vestry  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jones  remains 
undissolved. 

"  Two  modes  by  which  the  connection  may  be  dis- 
solved, have  occurred  to  the  Committee  : 

"First.  From  the  nature  and  terms  of  the  engage- 
ment, between  the  Vestry  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jones, 
there  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  same  may,  for  suffi- 
cient cause,  at  any  time  be  dissolved  by  either  party, 
it  being  presumed  that  the  canons  of  the  Church  do 
not  affect  contracts  which  had  been  previously  made. 

"  Second.  The  thirty-second  canon  of  the  General 
Convention,  of  the  year  1808,  relates  to  disagreements 
between  ministers  and  their  congregations  or  vestries, 
and  provides  for  the  dissolution  of  the  connection  be- 
tween them. 

"As  the  Committee  have  expressed  their  op'nion, 
that  the  connection  with  Mr.  Jones  ought  to  be  dis- 
solved, it  remains  for  the  Vestry  solemnly  to  consider 
and  determine,  whether  a  due  regard  for  the  peace  and 
prosperity  of  the  Church,  does  not  require  of  them, 
without  delay,  to  have  recourse  to  the  means  provided 
by  the  canons  to  effect  this  dissolution. 

"(Signed,)  "Rufus  King, 

"  Rich.  Harison, 
''David  M.  Clarkson, 
"  And.  Raymond.-' 

Which  report  being  read,  the  Vestry  came  to  the 
following  resolutions : — 

"Whereas,  differences  and  controversies  exist  be- 
tween the  Rev.  Mr.  Cave  Jones,  one  of  the  Assistant 
Ministers  of  this  Church,  and  this  Vestry,  arising  out 
of  the  publication  entitled  <  A  Solemn  Appeal  to  the 


240  HISTORY    OF 

Church,'  which  are  of  such  a  nature  as  cannot  be 
settled  between  them, — 

"Resolved,  therefore,  That  application,  represent- 
ing the  same,  be  made,  on  the  part  of  this  Board,  to 
the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese,  pursuant  to  the  32d  canon 
of  the  General  Convention. 

"  Thereupon,  Resolved,  further,  That  the  Rt.  Rev. 
the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  be,  and  he  hereby  is,  hum- 
bly requested  to  take  into  immediate  consideration  the 
subject  matter  of  the  foregoing  resolution  $  and,  with 
the  assistance  of  his  Presbyters,  to  proceed  thereon, 
according  to  the  directions  of  the  said  canon. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Clerk  be  directed  to  transmit 
a  copy  of  the  foregoing  resolutions  to  the  Right  Rev. 
Bishop  Moore." 

At  a  subsequent  meeting,  the  Assistant  Rector  hav- 
ing communicated  to  the  Vestry  a  paper,  subscribed 
by  the  Rev.  Cave  Jones,  protesting  against  the  applica- 
tion of  the  32d  canon  of  the  Church  to  the  differences 
alleged  to  exist  between  him  and  this  Vestry,  it  was 
thereupon  resolved,  that  the  Clerk  be  directed  to  de- 
liver to  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Moore,  a  copy  of  that 
part  of  the  late  report  of  the  Committee  on  the  state 
of  the  Church  which  relates  to  those  differences,  and 
to  request  that  he  would  be  pleased  to  proceed  there- 
upon, according  to  the  directions  of  the  canon  above 
referred  to. 

At  the  next  meeting  of  the  Board,  the  following 
letter,  addressed  to  the  Clerk,  was  received  from  the 
Right  Rev.  Dr.  Moore,  and  which  was  followed  soon 
after  by  another  on  the  same  subject. 

"  The  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  in  the  city  of  New- 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  241 

York,  are  hereby  informed,  that  I  shall  meet  with  my 
Presbyters  on  Tuesday,  November  the  5th,  at  No.  20 
Robinson-street,  in  said  city,  at  12  o'clock,  to  proceed 
in  the  case  of  difference  between  them  and  the  Rev. 
Cave  Jones,  one  of  the  Assistant  Ministers  of  said 
Church,  agreeably  to  the  requisitions  of  the  32d  canon 
of  the  General  Convention  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church ;  at  which  time  and  place  the  Vestry  may  be 
heard  by  deputation,  in  relation  to  the  said  case  and 
the  proceedings  thereon,  I  having  sent  a  notification  to 
the  same  effect  to  the  Rev.  Cave  Jones. 

"  (Signed,)  u  Benjamin  Moore. 

"By  his  Son,  "Clement  C.  Moore. 

11  To  Thomas  L.  Ogden,  Esquire, 

"  Clerk  of  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church." 

"Thereupon,  Resolved,  That  Rufus  King  and 
Richard  Harison,  Esquires,  be  a  Committee  to  attend 
the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Moore  and  his  Presbyters,  and  to 
represent  this  Vestry  at  the  meeting  referred  to  in  the 
said  letter." 

An  instrument  was  subsequently  presented  to  the 
Board,  under  the  hands  of  the  Right  Rev.  Benjamin 
Moore,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese,  and  his  Presbyters, 
dated  the  5th  of  November  instant,  whereby  it  is  re- 
commended that  the  Rev.  Cave  Jones,  one  of  the  As- 
sistant Ministers  of  this  Church,  do  relinquish  immedi- 
ately his  title  to  the  said  office  of  Assistant  Minister ; 
that  this  body  do  pay  to  him  the  balance  of  his  salary, 
up  to  the  date  of  the  said  instrument  5  and  also,  within 
the  period  of  thirty  days  thereafter,  the  sum  of  one 
thousand  pounds.  Which  instrument  being  read,  and 
duly  considered,  it  was  thereupon  resolved  as  follows : 


242  HISTORY    OF 

u  Resolved,  That  this  Vestry  do  agree  to  the  said 
terms,  and  will  do  every  thing  necessary  on  their  part 
to  carry  the  same  into  execution. 

"  Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  the  said  resolutions  be 
forthwith  delivered  to  the  said  Bishop  and  Presbyters. 

"Resolved,  Further,  That  the  Treasurer  of  this 
Corporation  be  authorized,  previously  to  the  next  meet- 
ing of  the  Vestry,  to  pay  to  the  Rev.  Cave  Jones  the 
arrears  of  his  salary,  as  an  Assistant  Minister  of  this 
Church,  including  a  gratuity,  at  the  rate  of  one  thou- 
sand dollars  per  annum  5  such  salary  and  gratuity  to 
be  computed  to  the  time  of  payment  or  tender.  Also,  to 
offer  to  pay  him  the  said  sum  of  one  thousand  pounds, 
upon  his  relinquishing  his  title  to  the  office  of  an  As- 
sistant Minister  of  this  Church  j  and  if  he  shall  make 
such  relinquishment,  to  pay  to  him  the  said  sum,  ac- 
cording to  the  terms  of  the  instrument  above  recited. 

"Resolved,  That  the  Clerk  of  this  Corporation 
make  out  a  proper  power  for  the  purposes  expressed  in 
the  resolution  last  above  written,  and  that  he  affix  the 
seal  of  this  Corporation  to  the  same,  and  deliver  it 
without  delay  to  the  Treasurer." 

The  proposition  of  the  Vestry  not  having  been  ac- 
cepted, and  the  matter  having  been  thrown  into  the 
civil  courts,  it  was  ordered  that  the  Clerk  of  this  Board 
should  be  the  Attorney  of  the  Corporation,  to  defend 
the  suit  commenced  by  the  Rev.  Cave  Jones,  and  that 
Mr.  Riggs,  Mr.  Hoffman,  Mr.  Wells,  and  Mr.  David 
B.  Ogden  be  employed  as  counsel.  The  course  about 
to  be  pursued  being  earnestly  deprecated  by  the  Ves- 
try, Messrs.  David  M.  Clarkson,  William  Bayard,  Pe- 
ter A.  Jay,  and  Thomas  L.  Ogden  were  appointed  a 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  243 

committee  on  the  State  of  the  Church,  with  authority 
to  confer  with  Messrs.  Thomas  Farmar,  James  Far- 
quhar,  Peter  Mesier,  and  Peter  J.  Munro,  on  the  sub- 
ject of  their  letter  to  the  Vestry,  and  that  they  should 
report  to  the  Board  at  their  next  meeting.  The  com- 
mittee on  the  State  of  the  Church  shortly  after  reported 
to  the  Vestry  a  correspondence  which  had  taken  place 
between  them  and  Messrs.  Farmar,  Farquhar,  Mesier, 
and  Munro,  as  the  authorized  agents  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Jones,  on  the  subject  of  the  differences  existing  be- 
tween that  gentleman  and  the  Vestry  ;  by  which  cor- 
respondence it  appears,  that  a  reference  to  arbitrators, 
to  be  selected  from  the  clerical  or  legal  professions, 
of  all  matters  which  could  properly  be  discussed  in  a 
court  of  justice,  in  any  suit  between  Mr.  Jones  and 
the  Vestry,  had  been  proposed,  and,  subject  to  the  ap- 
probation of  the  Vestry,  had  been  agreed  to  by  the 
committee,  upon  an  understanding  that  the  quantum 
of  compensation  to  be  allowed  to  Mr.  Jones  should  be 
considered  as  open  for  adjustment  by  the  said  arbitra- 
tors, notwithstanding  any  decision  establishing  the  va- 
lidity of  the  sentence  of  suspension ;  and  that  upon 
such  reference,  no  advantage  should  be  taken  of  the 
want  of  the  corporate  seal  to  the  contract  between 
Mr.  Jones  and  the  Vestry. 

"  Thereupon,  Resolved,  That  this  Board  agree  to 
the  said  reference,  and  will,  in  all  matters  within  their 
power,  carry  into  effect  the  conditions  stipulated  by 
their  committee. 

"  Resolved,  Further,  That  the  said  committee  take 
measures  for  the  appointment  of  suitable  referees,  and 
for  the  drawing  of  such  papers  as  maybe  necessary  to 


244  HISTORY    OF 

carry  into  effect  the  said  reference,  subject  to  the  ap- 
probation of  this  Board." 

The  Honourable  James  Kent,  Smith  Thompson, 
Ambrose  Spencer,  William  W.  Van  Ness,  and  Joseph 
C.  Yates  were  appointed  the  arbitrators  in  the  case, 
and  Robert  Troup,  Esq.,  was  appointed  to  attend 
them ;  and  he  was  likewise  authorized  to  take  the 
necessary  measures  preparatory  to  the  hearing,  which 
was  about  to  take  place  before  them.  On  the  30th  of 
October,  1813,  the  award  of  the  arbitrators  on  the 
matters  in  difference  between  this  Corporation  and  the 
Rev.  Cave  Jones  was  produced  to  the  Board,  and 
read,  in  the  words  following : 

u  To  all  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come  or  may 
concern:  Whereas,  Cave  Jones,  of  the  city  of  New- 
York,  Clerk,  hath  commenced  an  action  in  the  Su- 
preme Court,  against  the  Rector  and  Inhabitants  of 
the  city  of  New-York,  in  communion  of  the  Protest- 
ant Episcopal  Church  in  the  State  of  New-York,  to 
recover  his  salary  and  compensation  as  an  Assistant 
Minister,  in  the  employ  and  service  of  the  said  Rector 
and  Inhabitants.  And  whereas  the  said  Rector  and 
Inhabitants,  and  the  said  Cave  Jones,  did  agree  to 
submit  the  said  action,  and  all  other  matters  which 
could  properly  be  discussed  in  a  court  of  justice,  in 
any  suit  or  action  between  them  the  said  parties,  to 
the  award,  arbitrament,  and  determination  of  James 
Kent,  Smith  Thompson,  Ambrose  Spencer,  William 
W.  Van  Ness,  and  Joseph  C.  Yates,  or  any  three  of 
them,  arbitrators  indifferently  elected,  chosen  and 
named  as  well  by,  and  on  the  part  and  behalf  of  the 
said  Rector  and  Inhabitants,  as  of  the  said  Cave  Jones, 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  245 

as  by  the  bonds  of  submission  mutually  executed  and 
interchanged  by  the  said  parties,  and  bearing  date  the 
14th  day  of  July,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  twelve,  reference  being  there- 
unto had,  will  more  fully  and  at  large  appear.  And 
whereas,  the  time  mentioned  in  the  said  bonds  for 
making  the  said  award,  was  afterwards  by  the  said 
parties  enlarged  to  the  first  day  of  November  next. 
Now,  therefore,  know  ye,  that  we,  the  above  named 
arbitrators,  having  taken  upon  ourselves  the  burthen 
of  the  said  arbitrament,  and  having  heard  the  allega- 
tions and  proofs  of  the  said  parties,  do  by  these  pre- 
sents award  and  adjudge  as  follows,  to  wit : 

u  1st.  We  award  and  adjudge,  that  the  said  ac- 
tion of  the  said  Jones  against  the  said  Rector  and  In- 
habitants  cease,  and  be  no  further  prosecuted. 

"2d.  We  award  and  adjudge,  that  the  said  Rector 
and  Inhabitants  pay  to  the  said  Cave  Jones,  on  or  be- 
fore the  first  day  of  November  next,  the  sum  of  seven 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  together  with  the  actual 
balance  due  the  said  Cave  Jones  on  the  fifth  day  of 
November,  1811,  for  services  previously  rendered  by 
him  to  the  said  Rector  and  Inhabitants. 

"  3d.  We  award  and  adjudge,  that  the  said  Cave 
Jones,  at  the  same  time  execute,  under  his  hand  and 
seal,  and  deliver  to  the  said  Rector  and  Inhabitants,  a 
release  of  all  actions,  claims,  and  demands  whatsoever, 
in  law  or  equity,  arising,  or  to  arise  upon  any  contract, 
matter,  or  thing,  mentioned  or  referred  to  in  the  reci- 
tal contained  in  the  said  bonds  of  submission. 

"  In  witness  whereof  the  said  arbitrators  have  here- 


246  HISTORY    OF 

unto  set  their  hands  and  seals,  this  twenty-fifth  day  of 
October,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirteen. 

"  James  Kent,  [l.  s.] 

tt  Smith  Thompson,  [l.  s.] 
"  Ambrose  Spencer,  [l.  s.] 
«W.  W.  Van  Ness,  [l.s.] 
"  Joseph  C.  Yates,  [l.  s.]" 

Which  award  having  been  considered,  the  following 
resolutions  were  adopted : 

"  Resolved,  That  this  Corporation  will  execute  the 
said  award  in  every  thing  to  be  performed  on  their 
part*,  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  pay  to  the 
Rev.  Cave  Jones  the  several  sums  of  money  mention- 
ed in  the  said  award,  accordingto  the  directions  there- 
of, and  that  the  Clerk  affix  the  seal  of  the  Corporation 
to  a  proper  power  of  attorney,  authorizing  him  to  ten- 
der and  pay  the  same. 

"  Resolved,  Further,  That  a  compliance  with  the 
said  award  on  the  part  of  the  Rev.  Cave  Jones,  will  be 
considered  by  this  Board  as  a  compliance  in  effect  with 
the  recommendation  of  Bishop  Moore  and  his  Presby- 
ters, made  on  the  5th  day  of  November,  1811 5  and  that 
upon  such  compliance  the  Clerk  of  this  Board  unite  with 
Mr.  Jones,  in  a  proper  application  to  the  Bishop,  or 
his  Assistant,  for  the  removal  of  Mr.  Jones'  suspension, 
and  affix  thereto  the  seal  of  this  Corporation." 

At  the  next  meeting  the  Treasurer  and  Clerk  re- 
ported to  the  Vestry  that  they  had  complied  with  the 
directions  of  the  Board  relative  to  the  Rev.  Cave 
Jones,  and  that  Mr.  Jones  had  on  his  part  executed  a 
general  release  to  this  Corporation,  pursuant  to  the 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  247 

award  of  the  arbitrators.  The  total  expense  of  this 
vexatious  question,  directly  and  incidentally,  amounted 
to  $12,960  14-100. 

The  general  features  of  the  controversy  between 
Mr.  Jones  and  Dr.  Hobart  having  now  been  present- 
ed, and  the  harassing  circumstances  with  which  it  was 
attended  to  the  Vestry  having  been  thus  fully  stated,  I 
shall  dismiss  the  further  consideration  of  this  painful 
subject. 

On  the  12th  of  December,  1811,  the  Assistant  Rec- 
tor having  nominated  me  as  an  Assistant  Minister  of 
this  Church,  and  the  nomination  having  been  approved, 
I  was  elected  accordingly.  The  communication  of 
the  fact  was  made  to  me  by  Thomas  L.  Ogden,  Esq., 
who  had  then  been  a  Vestryman  for  several  years,  who 
afterwards  continued  to  be  the  Clerk  of  this  Board 
for  thirty-three  years  more,  and  who,  during  the 
whole  period  of  his  connection  with  it,  was  one  of  the 
most  useful  and  honored  members  which  it  had  ever 
had,  throughout  the  whole  period  of  its  existence. 

I  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  my  duties  in  the 
parish  on  the  1st  of  January,  1812.  In  the  month  of 
October  it  was  ordered  by  the  Vestry,  that  notice  of 
my  election  should  be  given  to  the  Bishop,  to  the  end 
that  I  might  be  instituted  pursuant  to  the  canon.  This 
was  accordingly  done  a  short  time  after,  and  the  ser- 
mon on  the  occasion  was  preached  by  the  Assistant, 
Rector,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Beach. 

With  the  exception  of  a  short  connection  with 
Christ  Church,  Belleville,  New-Jersey,  which  many 
circumstances  conspired  to  render  very  pleasant  and 


248  HISTORY    OF 

agreeable  to  me,  this  is  the  only  settlement  I  have 
ever  had. 

In  the  autumn  of  1811,  circumstances  seeming  to 
have  made  it  expedient  that  St.  George's  Chapel 
should  be  separated  from  Trinity  Church,  committees 
were  appointed  on  the  part  of  both,  with  a  view  to  a 
friendly  conference  on  the  subject.  A  number  of  que- 
ries were  proposed  by  the  former,  in  order  to  ascer- 
tain and  settle  the  future  relations  which  should  exist 
between  the  two  parishes,  the  advantages  and  privileges 
which  should  be  allowed  to  St.  George's,  and  the  extent 
to  which,  both  at  the  time  and  prospectively,  under 
certain  contingencies,  the  Church  should  be  endowed. 
The  answers  by  the  Committee  of  Trinity  Church 
having  been  perfectly  liberal  and  satisfactory,  all  the 
legal  and  necessary  measures  were  forthwith  adopted 
to  effect  the  object,  and  a  short  time  after  the  separa- 
tion took  place.  The  kind  feeling  and  lingering  affec- 
tion then  existing  between  them,  are  very  strikingly 
shown  in  the  following  enquiries : — 

3.  "  Are  the  Congregation  of  St.  George's  Chapel 
to  look  upon  themselves  as  a  branch  of  the  Family  of 
Trinity  Church  ?  and  in  case  their  funds  should  be 
found  to  be  inadequate  to  defraying  the  yearly  expenses, 
keeping  the  Church  in  repair,  or  rebuilding  their  pro- 
perty, if  injured  or  destroyed  by  fire,  will  the  Vestry 
of  Trinity  Church  continue  to  view  said  Chapel  as  the 
eldest  child  of  the  Family,  entitled  to  every  needful 
assistance  ? 

4.  "  Will  the  Vestry  of  St.  George's  Chapel,  in  the 
event  of  a  separation  taking  place,  be  entitled  to  fre- 
quent and  unqualified  conferences  with  the  Vestry  of 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  2  19 

Trinity  Church,  in  all  things  relative  to  their  mutual 
interest  and  support  ?" 

In  a  corresponding  spirit  of  kindness  and  good-will, 
the  Committee  of  this  Corporation  made  the  following 
replies : — 

To  the  3d  question — 

"  Trinity  Church  will  cherish  the  recollection  of 
their  union  with  St.  George's,  and  will  be  always  dis- 
posed, according  to  their  abilities,  to  assist  St.  George's 
in  their  necessities." 

And  to  the  4th  question — 

tt  In  every  matter  affecting  their  mutual  harmony 
and  prosperity,  Trinity  Church  will  freely  and  sincere- 
ly confer  with  St.  George's,  it  being  their  opinion,  that 
these  conferences  should  be  conducted  by  committees 
of  the  respective  vestries." 

On  the  12th  of  March,  1812,  the  Committee  of 
leases  having  made  their  report  for  the  endowment  of 
St.  George's  Church,  it  was  approved  by  the  Vestry, 
and  the  following  lots  were  ordered  to  be  conveyed 
accordingly,  subject  to  the  usual  conditions  on  grants 
to  other  churches : — 

4  on  Greenwich-street, 

1  on  Barclay  u 

4  on  Murray  " 

4  on  Warren  " 
6  on  Chambers       " 

5  on  Reade  " 

24  lots  in  all — yielding  at  the  time  a  rent  of  $ 3000 

per  annum  for  the  first  21  years,  and  $3200  for  the 

second  term  of  21  years. 
16 


250  HISTORY  OF 

In  the  month  of  October,  a  communication  was 
received  from  the  Vestry  of  St.  George's  Church, 
respecting  the  increase  of  their  endowment,  which 
was  referred  to  the  Committee  of  leases. 

Upon  the  report  and  recommendation  of  this  Com- 
mittee, at  a  meeting  of  the  Vestry,  held  on  the  12th 
of  April,  1813,  relative  to  the  further  execution  of 
the  arrangement  between  this  Corporation  and  St. 
George's,  it  was  resolved  by  this  Board,  to  pay,  or 
assume  the  payment,  of  $3125  to  Cornelius  J.  Bogert, 
E:;q.,  being  the  consideration  for  a  lot  of  ground  adja- 
cent to  the  church-yard  of  St.  George's,  and  which 
the  Vestry  of  that  Church  were  desirous  to  purchase, 
in  order  to  the  enlargement  of  their  church-yard. 

And  they  also  increased  the  endowment  of  the  same, 
by  a  grant  of  the  following  lots : — 

3  on  Reade  and  Church  streets, 

2  on  Murray-street, 

3  on  Chambers  " 

Total,  8  lots — yielding  at  the  time  an  annual  rent  of 
$1020,  which,  with  the  yearly  rent  of  those  already 
bestowed,  $3000,  made  an  aggregate  of  $4020  per 
annum.  These  8,  with  the  1  just  granted,  and  the  24 
which  were  given  before,  made  in  all  33  lots,  the  pres- 
ent value  of  which,  at  a  very  moderate  computation, 
cannot  be  less  than  $170,000. 

Shortly  after,  another  application  was  received  from 
St.  George's  Church,  praying  for  a  further  increase  of 
their  endowment,  to  which  there  appears  to  be  no 
answer  on  the  minutes. 

A  service  of  Communion  plate,  however,  was  given 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW- YORK.  251 

to  it  by  Trinity  about  this  time,  the  cost  of  which", 
with  the  expense  of  an  iron  railing,  and  some  repairs 
to  the  Church,  was  $5104  62-100. 

In  1814,  the  very  next  year  after  all  things  had  been 
arranged  so  liberally  by  Trinity  Church,  and  so  happily 
for  St.  George's,  a  sad  calamity  occurred  which  called 
for  a  now  exercise  of  the  bounty  of  this  Corporation. 

A  letter  was  received  from  the  Vestry  of  St.  George's 
Church,  representing  the  destruction  of  their  Church 
by  fire,  and  soliciting  the  assistance  of  this  Board  : 
and  thereupon,  Mr.  Clarkson,  Mr.  Shcrred,  Mr.  Jay, 
and  Mr.  Ogdcn,  to  which  Mr.  Bayard  was  afterwards 
added,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  consider  the 
s;ii;l  amplication,  and  to  confer  on  the  subject  with  the 
committee  appointed  by  St.  George's. 

At  the  next  meeting  of  the  Vestry,  the  written  cor- 
respondence was  presented  which  had  taken  place  be- 
tween them.     It  was,  therefore,  resolved,  that  this  Cor- 
poration would  agree  to  rebuild  St.  George's  Church, 
upon  the  original  plan,  except  as  to  the  steeple,  which 
was  to  be  replaced  by  a  tower,  upon  condition  that 
they  should   be   allowed   to  sell  all  the  pews  on  the 
ground  floor,  except  twelve  single  pews  nearest  the 
doors,  at  public  auction,  subject  to  a  reasonable  rent, 
and  to  apply  the  proceeds  of  such  sales  towards  the 
reimbursement  of  the  expenses  of  the  building  5  these 
twelve  pews,  and  all  the  pews  in  the  gallery,  being 
left  at  the  disposal  of  the  Vestry  of  St.  George's.    The 
latter  having  agreed  to  the  terms  proposed,  the  Com- 
mittee were  authorized  to  proceed  in  the  rebuilding 
of  the  said  Church,  in  such  manner  as  they  should 
deem  advisable ;  and  it  was  at  the  same  time  ordered, 


252  HISTORY    OF 

that  $600  should  be  paid  to  the  Vestry  of  St.  George's 
Church,  as  one  year's  rent  of  a  house  for  the  use  of 
their  Rector. 

Shortly  after,  another  application  was  laid  before 
the  Board  from  St.  George's  Church,  relative  to  the 
enlargement  of  their  burial  ground,  and  to  the  further 
execution  of  the  arrangement  under  which  they  were 
separated  from  this  Corporation.  The  Vestry,  there- 
fore, authorized  the  committee  to  whom  this  applica- 
tion was  referred,  to  purchase  the  estate  of  Thomas 
Burling,  adjacent  to  the  Church,  for  the  sum  of 
$  14,000  ;  and,  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  same 
committee,  it  was  further  resolved,  that  they  should 
take  measures  for  enclosing  the  most  westerly  of  the 
two  houses  on  the  said  lot,  to  be  hereafter  completed 
as  a  dwelling-house  for  the  Rector  of  St.  George's. 
In  1815,  the  Treasurer  of  Trinity  Church,  in  concert 
with  the  Vestry  of  St.  George's,  was  authorized  to  have 
$30,000  insured  on  the  Church  and  Parsonage-house, 
and  to  pay  the  preminm  for  the  same,  amounting  to 
$184  25-100. 

By  the  Treasurer's  annual  account  in  the  same  year, 
it  appears  that  the  sum  expended  in  the  rebuilding  of 
St.  George's  Church,  and  the  Rector's  house,  was 
$30,946  83-100  5  and  as  there  is  no  credit  on  the  cash 
side  of  the  account  for  receipts  from  the  sales  of  pews, 
it  is  probable  that  this  is  the  net  amount  of  their  cost, 
after  these  receipts  were  deducted. 

In  1816,  a  representation  was  made  from  St. 
George's,  respecting  the  expenses  of  repairing  the 
Church  chandeliers  and  branches,  and  requesting  to  be 
furnished  with  a  clock  and  organ ;  which  this  Vestry, 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  253 

having  hoped  for  some  limit  to  their  bounty,  respect- 
fully declined. 

Upon  a  careful  estimate  of  the  present  value  of  the 
lands  with  which  St.  George's  was  endowed  by  Trinity 
Church,  and  the  various  gifts  and  grants  of  this  muni- 
ficent Corporation,  the  total  amount  cannot  be  set 
down  at  less  than  $220,000,  or  but  little  less  than  a 
quarter  of  a  million. 

As  long  "  as  benevolence  shall  be  considered  a  vir- 
tue," and  gratitude  a  duty,  could  it  be  thought  that 
liberality  like  this  would  ever  be  forgotten ! 

On  the  17th  of  Nov.,  1812,  the  Assistant  Rector 
was  authorized  to  engage  the  Rev.  Benj.  T.  Onder- 
donk  to  assist  in  performing  Divine  service  for  six 
months,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he  was  empowered 
to  continue  the  arrangement  for  six  months  longer. 
But  on  the  30th  of  Oct.,  1813,  the  Assistant  Rector 
having  nominated  him  as  an  Assistant  Minister  of  this 
Church,  the  nomination  was  approved,  and  Mr.  Ondcr- 
donk  was  placed  on  the  same  footing  with  respect  to 
salary  and  the  tenure  of  his  office,  as  had  been  deter- 
mined on,  at  my  own  appointment. 

A  communication  was  received  about  this  time  from 
the  Free  School  Society  of  New  York,  accompanied 
by  a  resolution  of  the  Trustees  of  that  Institution  in  the 
following  words  : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  afternoon  of  Tuesday  (third 
day)  in  each  week,  be  appropriated  for  the  instruction  of 
the  children  of  the  New-York  Free  School  in  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Christian  Religion,  and  in  order  that  they 
may  be  educated  in  the  peculiar  tenets  of  the  Denom- 
inations to  which  they  respectively  belong,  the  soveral 


254  HISTORY    OF 

churches  with  which  they  are  connected,  be  respect- 
fully invited  to  send  suitable  persons  to  catechize  and 
otherwise  so  to  instruct  them." 

It  was  thereupon  ordered,  that  the  Assistant  Rector 
and  other  Clergy  of  this  Church,  be  requested  to  give 
the  necessary  attention  to  the  said  resolution,  and  that 
200  Common  Prayer  Books  be  appropriated  to  the 
use  of  the  scholars  who  belong  to  the  Episcopal  Church, 
to  be  distributed  under  the  direction  of  the  Assistant 
Rector. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Vestry,  held  en  the  1st  of  March, 
1813,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Beach  having  signified  his  desire  to 
resign  the  office  of  Assistant  Rector  and  Minister  of 
this  Church,  if  agreeable  to  the  Vestry,  it  was  there- 
upon resolved,  unanimously,  that  this  Board  in  concur- 
rence with  the  desire  of  Dr.  Beach,  would  accept  such 
resignation,  and  in  consideration  of  his  very  long  and 
faithful  services  in  this  Church,  as  one  of  its  useful  pas- 
tors, this  board  would  grant  him  an  annuity  for  life 
of  $1590,  to  be  secured  by  bond  under  the  seal  of  this 
Corporation. 

The  Rev.  Abraham  Beach,  upon  his  ordination  in 
England,  was  appointed  by  the  venerable  Society  for 
the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  as 
their  Missionary  at  New-Brunswick  and  Piscataqua, 
at  a  salary  of  £40  sterling  a  year.  The  Society  shortly 
after  received  advice  that  he  had  arrived  safe  at  his 
mission,  in  the  end  of  September,  1787,  where  he  was 
kindly  received  by  the  people,  and  found  an  agreement 
(in  charity,  we  may  suppose,  and  not  in  doctrine,) 
aicong  all  denominations.  And  as  a  proof  of  this  friend- 
ly feeling,  he  stated,  in  letters  written  several  years 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  255 

afterwards,  that  his  own  churches  were  frequented  by 
serious  persons  of  all  denominations,  that  he  endea- 
voured by  a  kind  and  candid  treatment  of  dissenters  to 
overcome  their  prejudices,  and  that  he  had  in  several 
instances  experienced  the  good  effects  of  it.     A  differ- 
ent spirit,  however,  began  to  prevail  about  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  Revolutionary  war ;  for  in  one  of  his 
communications  he  represented  to  the  Society  how 
hurtful  the  American  disputes  were  to  the  Clergy,  and 
he  assured  the  Society  that  he  had   endeavoured  to 
promote  moderation,  peace,  and  good  order,  trusting 
to  Providence  for  the  success  of  his  efforts.     To  which 
he  added,  that  if  he  could  preserve  nothing  else,  ho 
hoped   still  to  preserve  a  conscience  void  of  offence 
towards  God  and  man.     While  most  of  the  Mission- 
aries of  the  province  of  New-Jersey  had  taken  refuge 
in  New-York,  he  (with  Mr.  Ogden  and  Mr.  Frazer) 
appears  to  have  remained  at  his  post  without  molesta- 
tion, in  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duties.     He  was 
more  fortunate,  however,  in  this  respect  than  Mr.  Fra* 
zer,  whom  he  represented  as  a  most  worthy  man,  who 
had  been  stripped  of  almost  all  that  he  possessed  by 
the  Revolutionary  army,  and  who  being  too  low  in 
circumstances  to  remove,  was  forced  to  submit  to  daily 
insults  and  threatening^ ;  or  than   his  neighbour  audi 
intimate  friend,  Dr.  Chandler,  of  Elizabethtown,  who 
had  been  obliged  to  fly  from  the  country  in  the  very 
outset  of  the  war. 

In  two  of  his  letters,  dated  March  24th  and  Oc  to- 
bcr  2d,  1780,  he  wrote  that  he  had  seized  the  oppor- 
tunity of  a  flag  of  truce  to  New-York,  to  inform  the 
Society  that  he  was  still  in  his  station,  and  doing  his 


256  HISTORY    OF 

duty  in  it,  and  that  he  was  endeavouring  to  answer 
the  Society's  expectations,  so  far  at  least  as  the  dis- 
tracted state  of  the  country  would  admit,  by  visiting 
distant  missions,  baptizing  the  children,  and  perform- 
ing other  ecclesiastical  duties.  And  these  were  ac- 
companied by  a  minute  detail  of  his  missionary  labors 
for  several  years.  He  re-opened  his  church  on  Christ- 
mas Day,  1781 ;  but  after  having  spent  a  few  years 
more  in  his  comparatively  humble,  but  useful  station, 
he  was  appointed  an  Assistant  Minister  of  Trinity 
Church,  on  the  8th  of  June,  1784,  at  a  salary  of  £5G0 
per  annum. 

From  this  time  to  that  of  his  resignation  as  Assist- 
ant Rector,  a  period  of  twenty-nine  years,  he  pursued 
his  noiseless  course  in  this  parish  with  usefulness,  and 
retired  from  it  without  reproach,  a  commendation 
more  enviable  than  that  which  is  frequently  bestowed 
on  greater  men. 

He  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days,  in  old  age, 
near  a  place  endeared  to  him  in  youth  j  and  the  last 
notice  which  is  found  of  him,  is  in  the  annual  address 
of  Bishop  Croes,  of  New- Jersey,  to  his  Convention,  in 
1829 :  "  Some  changes  have  taken  place  with  respect 
to  the  clergymen  belonging  to  this  Diocese.  Among 
these  ought  especially  to  be  mentioned  the  decease  of 
the  aged  and  venerable  Dr.  Abraham  Beach,  who  for 
many  years  was  the  respectable  Rector  of  this  church,* 
and  who,  after  an  absence  of  nearly  thirty  years,  per- 
forming the  duties  of  a  Minister  of  Trinity  Church, 
New-York,  returned  to  his  farm,  near  this  city,  and 

*  New-Brunswick. 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  257 

spent  in  peace  and  tranquility  the  residue  of  a  life  of 
eighty-eight  years  duration." 

On  the  12th  of  April,  1813,  a  communication  was 
received  from  the  Right  Rev.  Benjamin  Moore,  D.D., 
nominating  the  Right  Rev.  John  Henry  Hobart  to  be 
his  Assistant,  and  to  fill  the  said  office  if  the  nomina- 
tion should  be  consented  to  by  the  Wardens  and  Ves- 
try of  Trinity  Church  5  which  nomination  was  for- 
mally approved. 

On  the  1st  of  March,  1816,  the  Vestry  having  been 
convened,  in  consequence  of  the  death  of  the  Right 
Rev.  Benjamin  Moore,  D.D.,  who  departed  this  life 
on  the  27th  of  February,  it  was  resolved  that  the  mem- 
bers would,  in  a  body,  attend  the  funeral  of  their  de- 
parted Rector,  and  that  on  occasion  of  his  death 
Trinity  Church  and  its  Chapels  should  be  hung  with 
mourning. 

"Bishop  Moore  was  born  October  5th,  1748,  at  New- 
town, Long-Island.  He  went  to  school  in  Newtown, 
and  afterwards  in  New-York,  in  order  to  prepare  for 
entering  King's  (now  Columbia)  College,  where  he 
graduated,"  and  of  which  he  afterwards  became,  and 
long  continued,  one  of  the  most  honoured  of  its  Presi- 
dents. 

"He  pursued  his  studies, after  he  graduated,  at  New- 
town, under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Auchmuty,  Rector  of 
Trinity  Church  5  and  he  was  engaged  some  years  in 
teaching  Latin  and  Greek  to  the  sons  of  several  gen- 
tlemen in  New-York. 

"  He  went  to  England  in  May,  1774 ;  was  ordained 
Deacon  on  Friday,  June  24, 1774,  in  the  Chapel  of  the 


258  HISTORY    OF 

Episcopal  Palace  at  Fulham,  by  Richard  Terrick, 
Bishop  of  London,  and  Priest  on  Wednesday ,  June  29, 
1774,  in  the  same  place,  by  the  same  Bishop. 

"After  his  return  from  England,  he  was  appointed, 
with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bowden,  (afterwards  Dr.  Bowden 
of  Columbia  College,)  an  Assistant  Minister  of  Trinity 
Church  ;  Dr.  Auchmuty  being  Rector,  and  afterwards 
Dr.  Inglis,  since  Bishop  of  Nova-Scotia.* 

"  On  the  resignation  of  Bishop  Provoost,  Dr.  Moore 
was  appointed  Rector  of  Trinity  Church,  Decem- 
ber 22,  1800.  He  was  unanimously  elected  Bishop  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  State  of  New- 
York,  at  a  Special  Convention  in  the  city  of  New- 
York,  September  5,  1801,  and  was  consecrated  Bishop 
at  Trenton,  New-Jersey,  in  St.  Michael's  Church,  Fri- 
day, September  11,  1801,  by  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop 
White,  of  Pennsylvania,  Presiding  Bishop ;  the  Right 
Rev.  Bishop  Claggett,  of  Maryland  ;  and  the  Right 
Rev.  Bishop  Jarvis,  of  Connecticut. 

"He  was  attacked  by  paralysis  in  February,  1811, 
and  for  the  last  two  or  three  years  repeated  attacks 
gradually  weakened  and  disabled  him,  until  he  expired 
at  his  residence,  at  Greenwich,  near  New-York,  on 
Tuesday  evening,  the  27th  of  February,  1816,  in  the 
66th  year  of  his  age."  Bishop  Hobart,  by  whom  the 
duties  of  the  Episcopal  office  in  this  Diocese  had  been 

*  From  that  time  till  his  retirement  from  the  active  duties  of  his 
office,  there  is  such  an  evidence  in  the  Parish  Register  of  the  extent 
of  his  labours,  and  his  unbounded  popularity,  as  within  my  observation, 
is  beyond  all  precedent.  In  the  period  of  thirty-five  years,  he  celebra- 
ted 3,578  marriages,  and  baptized  3,064  children  and  adults. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  259 

discharged,  as  Assistant  Bishop,  since  his  consecration 
in  May,  1811,  delivered  his  funeral  sermon,  of  which 
the  following  extract  forms  the  close : 

"  Our  venerable  father  has  gone.  In  the  bosom  of 
Abraham,  in  the  paradise  of  God,  in  the  custody  of 
the  Lord  Jesus,  his  soul  reposes,  waiting  in  peace  and 
joy  for  '  its  perfect  consummation  and  bliss  in  God's 
eternal  and  everlasting  glory.'  Soon  the  sentence  that 
sin  has  brought  on  the  whole  human  race,  is  to  be  pro- 
nounced on  the  revered  remains  before  us :  c  Earth  to 
earth — ashes  to  ashes — dust  to  dust.' 

u  But  he  lives  in  the  memory  of  his  virtues.  Let  us 
recall  and  cherish  them.  Let  us  keep  him  a  little 
longer  with  us — not  as  of  late,  when  languishing  under 
disease  he  gradually  lost  that  engaging  expression, 
which  had  so  eminently  characterized  him,  until  he  at 
last  sunk  in  the  darkness  of  death — but  let  us  view  him 
such  as  you,  people  of  the  congregation,  beheld  him 
when  he  appeared  among  you  as  your  Pastor — such 
as  we,  my  brethren,  beheld  him  when  he  exercised 
over  us  his  paternal  authority. 

UI  should,  indeed,  violate  that  simplicity  which  in  a 
high  degree  adorned  him,  if  I  were  to  indulge  in  the 
language  of  inflated  panegvric.  Simplicity  was  his 
distinguishing  virtue.  He  was  unaffected — in  his  tem- 
pers, in  his  actions,  in  every  look  and  gesture.  Sim- 
plicity, which  throws  such  a  charm  over  talents,  such 
a  lustre  over  station,  and  even  a  celestial  loveliness 
over  piety  itself,  gave  its  colouring  to  the  talents,  the 
station,  and  the  piety  of  our  venerable  father.  But  it 
was  a  simplicity  accompanied  with  uniform  prudence, 
and  with  an  accurate  knowledge  of  human  nature. 


260  HISTORY    OF 

UA  grace  allied  to  simplicity,  was  the  meekness  that 
adorned  him — a  meekness  which  was  '  not  easily  pro- 
voked'— never  made  an  oppressive  display  of  talents, 
of  learning,  or  of  station — and  condescended  to  the 
most  ignorant  and  humble,  and  won  their  confidence  5 
while  associated  with  dignity,  it  commanded  respect 
and  excited  affection  in  the  circles  of  rank  and  afflu- 
ence. And  it  was  a  meekness  that  pursued  the  dic- 
tates of  duty  with  firmness  and  perseverance. 

"  His  piety,  arising  from  a  lively  faith  in  the  Re- 
deemer whom  he  served,  and  whose  grace  he  was 
commissioned  to  deliver,  warmed  as  it  was  by  his  feel- 
ings, was  ever  under  the  control  of  sober  judgment.  A 
strong  evidence  of  its  sincerity,  was  its  entire  freedom 
from  any  thing  like  ostentation.  It  did  not  proclaim 
itself  at  the  corners  of  the  streets — it  did  not  make 
boastful  pretensions,  or  obtrude  itself  on  the  public 
gaze — but  it  was  displayed  in  every  domestic,  every 
social,  every  public  relation.  It  was  not  the  irregular 
meteor,  glittering  for  a  moment  and  then  sinking  in  the 
darkness,  from  which  it  was  elicited,  but  the  serene 
and  steady  light,  that  shineth  more  and  more  unto 
the  perfect  day. 

(t  He  rose  to  public  confidence  and  respect,  and  to 
general  esteem,  solely  by  the  force  of  talents  and  worth. 
In  the  retirement  of  a  country  village,  the  place  of  his 
nativity,  he  commenced  his  literary  career,  and  he  pro- 
secuted it  in  the  public  seminary  of  this  city,  and 
subsequently  in  his  private  studies,  until  he  became  the 
finished  scholar  and  the  well  furnished  divine. 

w  This  city  was  the  only  scene  of  his  parochial  labors. 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  261 

Here  he  commenced  and  here  he  has  closed  his  minis- 
terial life. 

"  People  of  the  congregation !  you  have  seen  him,  re- 
gular and  fervent,  yet  modest  and  humble,  in  perform- 
ing the  services  of  the  Sanctuary.  You  cannot  have 
forgotten  that  voice  of  sweetness  and  of  melody,  yet  of 
gravity  and  solemnity,  with  which  he  excited  while  he 
chastened  your  devotions  5  nor  that  evangelical  elo- 
quence which,  gentle  as  the  dew  of  Hermon,  insinuated 
itself  into  your  hearts. 

"  His  love  for  the  Church  was  the  paramount  princi- 
ple that  animated  him.  He  entered  on  her  service  in 
the  time  of  trouble.  Steady  in  his  principles,  yet  mild 
and  prudent  in  advocating  them,  he  never  sacrificed 
consistency,  he  never  provoked  resentment.  In  pro- 
portion as  adversity  pressed  upon  the  Church  was  the 
firmness  of  the  affection  with  which  he  clung  to  her. 
And  he  lived  until  he  saw  her,  in  no  inconsiderable  de- 
gree by  his  counsels  and  exertions,  raised  from  the  dust 
and  putting  on  the  garments  of  glory  and  beauty. 

"  It  was  this  affection  for  the  Church  which  animated 
his  Episcopal  labors — which  led  him  to  leave  that  fa- 
mily whom  he  so  tenderly  loved,  and  that  retirement 
which  was  so  dear  to  him,  and  where  he  found,  while 
he  conferred  enjoyment,  to  seek  in  the  remote  parts  of 
the  Diocese  for  the  sheep  of  Christ's  fold.  I  know  that 
his  memory  lives  where  I  have  traced  the  fruits  of  his 
labors. 

"  My  brethren  of  the  Episcopal  Clergy,  I  need  not 
tell  you  how  much  prudence,  gentleness  and  affection, 
distinguished  his  Episcopal  relation  to  you. 

u  We  are  not  without  many  recent  monitions  of  that 


262  history  or 

summons  which  we  shall  all  receive — Give  an  account 
of  thy  stewardship.  But  a  few  months  since  and  this 
temple  witnessed  your  attendance  on  the  last  solemn 
offices  of  a  venerable  Father.*  The  remains  of  ano- 
ther are  now  before  us.  With  the  exception  of  one,f 
to  whom  we  still  look  with  reverence,  who  was  the 
companion  of  his  youth,  the  associate  of  his  early  la- 
bours, and  the  sympathizing  friend  of  his  old  age,  he  is 
the  last  in  this  diocese  of  those  venerable  men  who  de- 
rived their  ordination  from  the  Parent  Church,  and 
whose  characters  were  marked  by  attachment  to  evan- 
gelical truth,  in  connection  with  primitive  order.  My 
brethren,  let  not  their  principles  descend  with  them  to 
the  grave.  Soon  our  course  will  be  finished :  our  ac- 
count will  at  the  great  day  be  demanded  j  and  how 
awful  the  responsibility  of  those  to  whom  Christ  hath 
entrusted  the  charge  of  "  the  sheep  for  whom  he  shed 
his  blood,  of  the  congregation  which  is  his  spouse  and 
body !" 

On  the  death  of  Bishop  Moore,  the  Right  Rev.  John 
Henry  Hobart  was  unanimously  elected  on  the  11th 
of  March,  1816,  as  his  successor  in  the  Rectorship  of 
Trinity  Church,  and  was  duly  admitted  into  the  Church 
by  delivering  to  him  the  keys  thereof  in  the  presence 
of  the  Church  Wardens  and  Vestrymen,  and  of  the 
Sextons,  Thomas  Collister  and  Richard  Wenman,  wit- 
nesses. 

In  1817  my  own  health,  partly  from  a  neglected 
cold  and  partly  from  the  weight  of  the  duties  in  this 
extensive  parish,  suddenly  broke  down,  and  it  was 

*  The  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Provoost.  f  The  Rev.  Dr.  Bowden. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  263 

thought  expedient  by  my  physician  that  I  should  pass 
the  winter  in  the  South  of  Europe.  I  therefore  ap- 
plied to  the  Vestry  for  leave  of  absence,  and  also  for 
the  aid  which  was  necessary,  having  no  means  of  my 
own.  They  very  promptly  gave  me  permission  to  be 
gone  for  a  year,  and  passed  a  resolution  for  the  contin- 
uance of  my  salary.*  This  relief,  with  a  considerable 
sum  which  was  raised  by  private  contributions  in  the 
Parish^  furnished  an  ample  provision  for  my  journey. 
Though  from  my  extreme  feebleness  and  the  doubt- 
fulness of  the  issue,  there  was  some  reason  for  despon- 
dency, I  nevertheless  went  on  my  way  rejoicing,  and 
contrary  to  the  fears  of  many  of  my  friends  returned 
with  renewed  health  and  cheerfulness  of  spirit  to  the 
discharge  of  those  duties,  which,  through  the  blessing 
of  God,  I  have  been  enabled  to  perform  for  nearly  thirty 
years  longer. 

In  consequence  of  my  absence  the  Rector  was  au- 
thorized to  engage  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jarvis,  of  St.  Mi- 
chael's and  St.  James's  Church  in  the  vicinity  of  this  city, 
and  the  Rev.  Evan  M.  Johnson,  of  New  Town,  Lone 
Island,  to  officiate  in  this  Church  and  its  Chapels  on 
Sunday  afternoons  for  the  period  of  six  months. 

On  the  11th  of  June,  1818,  the  Rector  nominated 
the  Rev.  Thomas  C.  Brownell,  of  Schenectady,  as  an 
Assistant  Minister  of  this  Church,  and  it  was  resolved, 
that  such  nomination  should  be  approved,  in  the  confi- 
dence that  Mr.  Brownell  would  relinquish  the  office 


*  This  application  to  the  Vestry  for  pecuniary  aid  was  the  first  and 
the  last  which  I  ever  made. 


264  HISTORY    OF 

if  his  health  should  not  be  found  to  be  so  established  as 
to  enable  him  to  discharge  its  duties.  In  the  year  be- 
fore it  had  been  so  much  impaired,  that  just  on  the  eve 
ol  my  departure  for  Europe,  in  the  hope  of  recovering 
my  own,  I  wrote  to  him  requesting  him  to  accompany 
me  in  my  journey.  It  was  a  matter  of  unfeigned  re- 
gret to  me,  that  circumstances  which  he  could  not  con- 
trol, rendered  it  inconvenient  for  him  to  accept  the 
proposal. 

In  the  following  year  Mr.  Brownell  was  elected 
Bishop  of  Connecticut,  where  he  has  been  enabled  to 
discharge  his  Episcopal  duties  with  honour  to  himself 
and  advantage  to  the  Church,  for  the  long  period  of 
twenty-seven  years. 

At  the  next  meeting  of  the  Vestry,  held  on  the  25th 
of  November,  1819,  the  appointment  of  an  Assistant 
Minister  being  under  consideration,  in  consequence 
of  the  vacancy  which  had  been  recently  made  by  the 
election  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brownell  to  the  Bishopric  of 
Connecticut,  the  Rector  nominated  the  Rev.  Jonathan 
M.  Wainwright,  of  Hartford,  to  supply  his  place, 
which  nomination  was  thereupon  approved.  He  en- 
tered at  once  upon  the  duties  of  his  charge  $  but  a 
short  time  after,  receiving  an  appointment  as  Rector 
of  Grace  Church,  New-York,  he  resigned  his  office  as 
an  Assistant  Minister  of  Trinity  Church,  on  the  8th 
of  January,  1821. 

About  this  period,  the  Rev.  George  Upfold,  Rector 
at  the  time  of  St.  Luke's  Church,  New-York,  after- 
wards the  Rector  of  St.  Thomas's,  and  now  of  Trinity 
Church,  Pittsburgh  5  the  Rev.  Wm.  H.  Delancey,  now 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  265 

Bishop  of  the  Western  Diocese  of  New-York,  and  the 
Rev.  George  W.  Doane,  now  Bishop  of  New-Jersey, 
were  temporarily  engaged  in  Trinity  Parish. 

In  the  autumn  of  1822,  Bishop  Hobart  had  a  severe 
attack  of  bilious  fever,  at  his  country  residence  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Springfield,  New-Jersey,  which  ex- 
cited in  the  minds  of  his  friends  the  most  anxious  fears, 
and  which  brought  him  indeed  very  near  to  the  gates 
of  death.  He  soon,  however,  recovered  from  it  in 
such  a  degree  as  to  be  enabled  to  resume  his  duties ; 
but  in  the  following  summer,  being  threatened  with  a 
repetition  of  it,  he  intermitted  them  for  a  time,  and 
took  a  journey  to  Quebec,  in  which  I  accompanied 
him.  It  turned  out  to  be  of  no  advantage  to  him,  but, 
on  the  contrary,  he  was  exceedingly  ill  on  his  way 
home,  and  the  case  seeming  to  be  hopeless,  without 
a  thorough  change  of  climate,  and  a  long  season  of 
repose  from  his  arduous  labors,  he  made  an  applica- 
tion to  the  Vestry,  by  the  advice  of  his  physicians, 
for  leave  of  absence,  in  order  to  undertake  a  voyage 
to  Europe.  The  Rector  having  withdrawn,  and  Mr. 
Rogers  being  in  the  chair,  it  was  unanimously  agreed, 
that  he  should  have  leave  of  absence  for  one  year, 
with  a  view  to  the  re-establishment  of  his  health,  that 
the  expenses  of  the  voyage  should  be  borne  by  the 
Vestry,  and  that  the  Rector's  salary,  at  the  time,  and 
other  allowances,  should  be  continued. 

Upon  this  occasion,  the  23d  of  Sept.,  1823,  I  was 
nominated  as  Assistant  Rector,  and  the  nomination 
was  confirmed. 

In  the  autumn  of  1824,  a  letter  having  been  received 

from  Bishop  Hobart,  stating  that  in  consequence  of 
17 


266  HISTORY    OF 

continued  ill  health,  he  was  advised  to  remain  in  Eu- 
rope, and  to  pass  the  ensuing  winter  in  the  South  of 
France,  his  leave  of  absence  was  extended  for  another 
year.  The  subject  of  his  expenses  was  entrusted  to  a 
committee,  and  managed  with  so  much  delicacy  as  that 
the  extent  of  them  was  not  known  at  the  time,  even  to 
the  Vestry  itself.  They  were  generally  understood, 
however,  to  be  on  a  scale  at  once  suited  to  the  dignity 
of  the  Bishop,  and  the  means  of  the  Corporation  by 
which  they  were  bestowed. 

On  the  14th  of  June,  1824,  the  Assistant  Rector 
nominated  the  Rev.  John  F.  Schroeder,  as  an  Assist- 
ant Minister  of  this  Parish,  and  the  nomination  was 
approved.  Dr.  Schroeder  continued  his  connection 
with  Trinity  Church  for  fifteen  years,  resigning  his 
charge  on  the  5th  of  Jan.,  1839. 

In  1827,  the  following  communication  from  Richard 
Harison,  Esq.,  was  received,  read,  and  ordered  to  be 
entered  on  the  minutes  of  the  Vestry : — 

"  To  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  in  the  City  of  New- York : — 
"  Gentlemen  : 

"  I  have  for  some  time  past  had  it  under  considera- 
tion, whether  I  ought  not  to  resign  my  place  as  one  of 
your  body,  and  the  office  which,  for  a  number  of  years, 
I  have  held  by  its  appointment  and  at  its  pleasure. 

"  A  variety  of  reasons,  which  it  would  be  useless  to 
specify,  have  hitherto,  and  perhaps  too  long,  deferred 
my  determining  this  question.  It  was  natural,  if  not 
strictly  proper,  to  delay  taking  so  definitive  a  measure, 
until  it  could  be  ascertained  whether  the  infirmities  by 
which  I  had  been  visited  were  of  a  nature  so  continued 
as  to  exclude  the  prospect  of  their  entire  removal,  or 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  267 

of  such  an  abatement  that  I  might  be  enabled  to  con- 
tinue my  official  duties  with  advantage  to  the  Church, 
and  without  material  injury  to  myself. 

"  The  experiment  has,  I  think,  now  been  fairly  tried, 
and  from  my  advanced  age  and  increasing  debility,  I 
have  no  reason  to  conclude  that  any  very  favourable 
change  is  to  be  expected.  I  must,  therefore,  beg  leave, 
most  respectfully,  to  resign  my  place  of  Church  War- 
den, and  the  office  of  Comptroller  j  the  resignation  to 
take  place  at  once,  unless  the  Vestry  should  prefer  that 
it  should  not  do  so  before  the  20th  of  next  month,  to 
give  time  for  the  appointment  of  my  successor,  and 
the  delivery  of  the  Church  papers  into  his  hands.  It 
must  be  obvious  to  every  reflecting  mind,  that  a  dis- 
solution of  the  confidential  and  intimate  connection 
which  has  lasted  for  half  a  century  or  upwards  with 
your  respectable  body,  and  been  cemented  by  mutual 
good  offices  and  regard,  cannot  fail  to  be  attended  by 
sensations  of  a  painful  nature.  Undoubtedly  I  feel 
them  with  due  sensibility,  but  I  hope  that  I  may  be 
permitted  (without  incurring  the  imputation  of  arro- 
gance and  vanity)  now  to  say,  when  taking  my  leave 
of  you,  that  I  have  the  consolation  derived  from  a 
consciousness  which  I  carry  with  me,  that  during  all 
that  time,  I  have  served  the  Church  with  undeviating 
fidelity,  and  done  every  thing  in  my  power,  according 
to  the  best  of  my  abilities,  to  promote  its  true  interests, 
without  suffering  any  private  advantage  or  views  of 
my  own,  or  any  undue  partialities,  to  interfere  with 
that  great  object  in  any  particular  whatever. 

"  I  must  now,  Gentlemen,  beg  leave  to  offer  my 
sincere  thanks  to  the  Vestry,  for  the  very  important 


2C8  HISTORY  OF 

offices  and  stations  which,  without  any  solicitation  on 
my  part,  they  have  at  different  times  conferred  upon 
me,  and  for  the  great  candour  with  which  they  have 
treated  me  upon  all  occasions.  I  have  only  to  add, 
that,  with  the  warmest  attachment  for  your  body,  and 
due  respect  for  each  of  them,  I  am  and  shall  remain, 
Gentlemen, 

"  Your  obliged  and  obedient  servant, 

"  R.  Harison. 

"  New-York,  22d  May,  1827." 

"  Which  communication  was  referred  to  Messrs. 
liogers,  McEvers,  T.  L.  Ogden,  Underbill,  Laight, 
McFarlan,  and  Weeks,  to  consider  and  report  what 
proceedings  may  be  proper  on  the  part  of  the  Vestry 
in  consequence  thereof,  and  also  whether,  and  if  any, 
what  farther  arrangements  may  be  expedient  in  rela- 
tion to  the  office  of  Comptroller." 

The  committee  on  the  Comptroller's  communication 
to  the  Vestry,  made  a  report  in  the  words  following : 

"  The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  Comp- 
troller's late  letter  to  the  Vestry,  submit  the  accompa- 
nying resolutions  as  proper  to  be  passed  in  reference 
to  that  communication. 

"  The  committee,  having  adverted  to  the  existing 
resolutions  on  this  subject,  do  not  perceive  that  any 
new  arrangements  are  called  for  in  relation  to  the 
office  of  Comptroller,  except  as  to  the  salary,  which, 
in  their  opinion,  may  be  reduced  to  fifteen  hundred 
dollars  per  annum. 

"  Taking  into  consideration  the  long  experience  of 
the  Clerk  of  the  Vestry  in  the  affairs  of  this  Corpora- 
tion, and  his  knowledge  of  its  property  and  concerns, 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  269 

it  appears  to  the  committee  that  his  services  may  be 
made  useful  in  the  general  management  of  its  business. 

"  They  therefore  recommend,  that  it  be  made  part 
of  the  duty  of  the  Clerk,  to  attend  at  the  vestry-office, 
when  and  as  often  as  circumstances  may  require,  to 
advise  with  the  Comptroller ;  and  that,  in  lieu  of  his 
present  salary,  he  be  allowed  hereafter  five  hundred 
dollars  per  annum. 

"  On  behalf  of  the  Committee, 

aN.  Rogers,  Chairman. 

"New- York,  11th  June,  1827." 

The  above  report,  in  connection  with  Mr.  Harison's 
letter  of  resignation,  being  first  taken  into  consideration, 
the  following  resolutions  were  adopted  : 

"  Resolved,  That  this  Vestry,  deeply  lamenting  the 
existence  of  those  infirmities  which  have  induced  Mr. 
Harison  to  resign  the  offices  of  Church  Warden  and 
Comptroller,  do  accept  his  resignation  of  those  offices, 
to  take  effect  from  the  20th  of  this  month. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  members  of  this  Vestry  enter- 
tain a  high  sense  of  the  zeal  and  fidelity  with  which 
Mr.  Harison  has  discharged  the  duties  of  the  several 
stations  which,  during  his  connection  with  the  Vestry, 
he  has  occupied  by  its  appointment  5  and  that  they  are 
also  deeply  sensible  of  the  great  value  of  the  services 
rendered  by  him  to  this  Corporation,  during  a  long 
ccurse  of  years  he  has  sustained  toward  each. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Clerk  be  requested  to  furnish 
a  copy  of  these  resolutions  to  Mr.  Harison,  and,  in 
behalf  of  the  individual  members  of  the  Vestry,  to  re- 
ciprocate all  the  expressions  of  affectionate  regard  and 
attachment  contained  in  his  letter  of  resignation,  and 


270 


HISTORY    OF 


to  assure  him  of  their  unceasing  interest  in  his  welfare 
and  happiness." 

In  the  autumn  of  1830  a  great  calamity  befell  the 
Parish,  the  Diocese,  and  the  Church  at  large,  in  the 
sudden  and  unexpected  death  of  Bishop  Hobart.  The 
grief  on  the  occasion  was  profound  and  universal. 
The  following  proceedings,  in  reference  to  this  melan- 
choly event,  took  place  in  the  Vestry. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Church  Wardens  and  Vestry- 
men of  Trinity  Church,  in  the  city  of  New-York,  held 
in  their  vestry-office,  on  the  15th  day  of  September 
1830,  present, 

Nehemiah  Rogers,  and  Charles  McEvers, 

Church  Wardens. 

John  Onderdonk,  Jonathan  H.  Lawrence, 

James  Bleecker  Thomas  Swords, 

Teunis  Quick,  Peter  A.  Mesier, 

Jonathan  Ogden,  Jacob  Lorillaru, 

Edward  W.  Laight,  Gabijiel  Furman, 

William  Johnson,  John  T.  Irving, 

Ezra  Weeks,  Anthony  L.  Underbill, 

Robert  Thomas,  George  Jones, 

William  E.  Dunscomb,  Philip  Hone, 

Vestrymen. 

Mr.  N.  Rogers  as  senior  Warden  took  the  chair, 
and  the  Clerk  being  absent  from  the  city,  Mr.  John- 
eon  was  requested  to  act  as  Clerk  of  the  meeting. 

"  Having  received  the  afflicting  intelligence  of  the 
death  (whilst  on  a  visitation  to  a  distant  part  of  his 
Diocese)  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  John  Henry  Hobart,  D.D., 
Bishop  of  the  Diocese,  and  Rector  of  this  Church,  and 
fully  sensible  of  our  duty  to  bend  with  humble  submis- 
sion to  the  ordering  of  a  wise  and  overruling  Provi- 
dence— it  was 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  271 

"Resolved  unanimously,  That  we  shall  ever  hold  in 
the  most  grateful  and  respectful  remembrance,  the 
truly  Christian  and  Apostolic  character  and  eminent 
services  of  our  deeply  lamented  Rector. 

"That  as  part  of  the  Diocese  of  New-York,  and  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States, 
we  feel  it  a  duty  to  our  venerated  and  beloved  friend 
and  pastor,  to  express,  as  we  do  hereby  express,  our 
high  sense  of  his  promptitude,  unexampled  zeal,  and 
unwearied  exertions  to  promote  every  object  connect- 
ed with  the  best  interests  of  religion,  and  of  the  Church, 
of  which  he  was  one  of  the  most  able,  disinterested, 
and  indefatigable  servants. 

"  That  the  respectful  and  affectionate  condolence  of 
the  Vestry  be  tendered  to  the  afflicted  Relict  and  fa- 
mily of  the  deceased. 

"  That  with  the  concurrence  of  the  family  of  the  de- 
ceased, his  funeral  be  conducted  under  the  direction 
and  at  the  expense  of  the  Corporation  of  Trinity 
Church,  and  that  the  expenses  attending  his  last  illness, 
and  the  removal  of  his  remains  to  this  city,  be  also  de- 
frayed by  this  Corporation. 

"  That  Mr.  McEvers,  Judge  Irving,  Mr.  Hone,  Mr. 
Lawrence  and  Mr.  Johnson,  be  a  committee  to  mako 
such  arrangements  for  conducting  the  funeral  of  the 
deceased,  as  they  may  think  best  suited  to  manifest  the 
feelings  of  this  Church  on  this  melancholy  event. 

"  Resolved,  That  in  further  testimony  of  our  high  res- 
pect for  the  memory  of  our  late  Rector,  the  members 
of  this  Vestry  will  attend  his  funeral  as  mourners,  and 
wear  the  usual  badge  of  mourning  for  thirty  days. 

"Resolved,  That  Trinity  Church,  and  St.  Paul's  and 


272  HISTORY   OF 

St.  John's  Chapels  be  hung  in  the  customary  mourning 
until  the  festival  of  Christmas. 

"  Resolved,  That  a  certified  copy  of  the  foregoing 
resolutions  be  delivered  to  Mrs.  Hobart,  the  respected 
Relict  of  our  late  Rector." 

And  at  a  meeting  on  the  4th  of  Oct.,  the  following 
resolutions  were  adopted  unanimously : — 

"Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Vestry  be  pre- 
sented to  the  Rev.  John  C.  Rudd,  D.D.,  Rector  of  St. 
Peter's  Church  at  Auburn,  for  the  affectionate  and  de- 
voted attentions  of  himself  and  of  his  family  to  our  late 
Rector  during  his  last  illness. 

u  Resolved,  That  the  thanksof  this  Vestry  be  pre- 
sented to  the  Rev.  Francis  H.  Cuming,  Rector  of 
Christ's  Church  at  Binghampton,  and  to  Mr.  Thos.  Y. 
How,  Junr.,  for  their  kind  attentions  to  our  late  Rec- 
tor, during  his  last  illness,  and  in  attending  his  remains 
to  this  city. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Clerk  send  certified  copies  of 
the  foregoing  resolutions,  to  the  above  named  gentle- 
men, respectively. 

"Resolved,  That  the  Comptroller,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Standing  Committee,  pay  all  the  expenses 
of  every  description  attending  the  last  sickness  of  the 
late  Rector,  and  the  removal  of  his  remains  to  this 
city,  so  as  in  their  discretion,  fully  to  indemnify  those 
who  may  have  incurred  the  same. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  salary  and  allowance  of  the  late 
Rector  be  continued  to  his  widow  until  the  end  of  the 
current  half  year,  and  that  she  have  the  use  of  the 
Rector's  house  until  the  last  day  of  May  next. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Standing  Committee  consider 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  273 

and  report  to  the  Vestry,  what  further  provision  ought 
to  be  made  for  the  support  of  the  widow  and  family  of 
the  late  Rector. 

"  Resolved,  That  a  suitable  monument  be  erected  in 
Trinity  Church  to  the  memory  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  John 
Henry  Hobart,  D.D.,  late  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of 
New- York,  and  Reetor  of  this  Church,  and  that  Mr. 
Hone,  Mr.  Johnson,  Mr.  Weeks,  Mr.  McEvers  and 
Mr.  Laight,  be  a  Committee  for  this  purpose." 

Letters  of  condolence  and  various  resolutions  on 
casion  of  the  death  of  Bishop  Hobart,  late  Rector  of 
this  Church,  were  presented  and  read  to  the  Vestry, 
viz.: 

From  the  Vestries  of  St.  John's  Church,  at  Eliza- 
bethtown ;  St.  Andrew's  Church,  New-York ;  and  St. 
Paul's  Parish,  Baltimore  5  from  the  Clergy  of  the  Pro- 
testant Episcopal  Church  Baltimore  ;  from  the  Con- 
gregation of  Sheareth  Israel,  New-York  5  from  the 
Historical  Society  New-York,  and  from  a  meeting  of 
the  Lay  Members  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Society 
for  the  promotion  of  Religion  and  Learning  in  the 
State  of  New-York  ;  the  Trustees  of  the  New-York 
Protestant  Episcopal  Public  School ;  the  New-York 
Bible  and  Common  Prayer  Book  Society  5  the  auxili- 
ary New-York  Bible  and  Common  Prayer  Book  So- 
ciety ;  the  New-York  Protestant  Episcopal  Tract  So- 
ciety ;  the  New-York  Protestant  Episcopal  Missionary 
Society  j  the  New-York  Protestant  Episcopal  Sunday 
School  Society  $  the  New-York  Protestant  Episcopal 
Press,  and  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  General 
Protestant  Episcopal  Sunday  School  Union.     It  was 


274 


HISTORY    OF 


thereupon  ordered,  that  the  Clerk  of  this  Board  ac- 
knowledge the  receipt  of  the  same  several  communica- 
tions. 

On  the  15th  October,  the  Standing  Committee  made 
the  following  report : — 

"  The  Standing  Committee  to  whom  it  was  referred, 
to  consider  and  report  what  further  provision  ought 
to  be  made  for  the  widow  and  family  of  the  late  Rec- 
tor— Report ;  that  having  duly  considered  the  sub- 
ject referred  to  them,  they  recommend  to  the  Vestry 
the  adoption  of  the  following  preamble  and  resolu- 
tinos,  viz  : — 

"  It  appearing  by  the  report  of  the  Standing  Commit- 
tee, that  the  family  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  John  Henry  Ho- 
bart,  deceased,  late  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  New- 
York,  and  Rector  of  this  Parish,  are,  by  his  sudden 
death,  left  without  any  adequate  provision  for  their  fu- 
ture maintenance  ; — and  this  Vestry  being  sensible  that 
the  unceasing  labours  and  exertions  of  this  ever  active 
and  faithful  servant  of  the  Redeemer,  in  the  discharge 
of  the  arduous  duties  incident  to  the  various  stations 
he  has  so  long  occupied  in  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church,  whilst  greatly  contributing,  under  the  blessing 
of  Heaven,  to  the  extension  and  prosperity  of  that 
Church,  and  eminently  useful  to  the  cause  of  sound  re- 
ligion and  morals,  have  necessarily  led  to  the  neglect 
of  his  private  concerns,  and  to  the  sacrifice  of  his  pri- 
vate interests  5  Therefore, 

"  1.  Resolved,  That  there  be  paid  to  the  widow  of  the 
late  Rector,  for  the  support  of  herself  and  family,  an 
annuity  of  two  thousand  dollars  during  her  life,  to  com- 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  275 

mence  from  the  first  day  of  March  next,  when  the 
temporary  provision  made  by  the  resolution  of  the 
Vestry  of  the  fourth  instant,  will  cease. 

44  2.  Resolved,  That  the  sum  of  three  hundred  dol- 
lars per  annum,  be  appropriated  to  the  education  and 
support  of  John  Henry  Ho'mrt,  the  youngest  son  of  the 
late  Rector,  until  he  shall  attain  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years.         In  behalf  of  the  Standing  Committee 

"  Wm.  Johnson,  Comptroller. 
"  October  15,  1830.  " 

A  communication  from  the  family  of  the  late  Rec- 
tor, was  read  in  the  following  words,  and  ordered  to 
be  entered  on  the  minutes: 

u  The  family  of  the  late  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Hobart, 
having  received  from  the  Clerk  of  the  Vestry  of  Tri- 
nity Church,  a  copy  of  a  resolution  passed  at  a  late 
meeting  of  that  body,  whereby  it  appears,  that  a  very 
liberal  and  ample  provision  has  been  made  for  their 
future  support,  would  beg  leave  most  respectfully  to 
express  to  the  Church  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  their 
sincere  and  grateful  acknowledgments. 

"  The  afflicting  dispensation  of  Providence,  which 
deprived  the  family  of  their  head  and  protector,  had 
thrown  them  on  the  genorosityof  the  representatives 
of  that  Church,  in  whose  service  he  had  spent  the 
spring-time  of  his  life,  and  to  whose  bountiful  liberal- 
ity he  had  often  been  indebted  for  so  much  of  his 
worldly  comfort  and  happiness. 

"With  what  kind  and  with  what  generous  feelings 
they  were  regarded  by  the  Vestry,  the  late  act  of  that 
Board  abundantly  testifies,  and  while  it  may  be  consider- 
ed  as  an  evidence  of  their  grateful  recollection  of  the 


276  history  of 

faithful  labours  of  him  to  whom  they  had  so  long 
stood  in  the  near  and  endearing  relations  of  Vestry 
and  Rector,  it  is  no  less  a  proof  of  their  lively  and 
delicate  sensibility  to  the  necessities,  and  natural  ex- 
pectations of  those  whom  he  has  left  dependent. 

"  While  the  family  of  the  late  Bishop  Hobart  would 
endeavour,  thus  feebly,  to  express  to  the  Vestry  of 
Trinity  Church,  their  grateful  sense  of  the  timely  and 
munificent  provision  made  for  their  support,  they  do 
not  fail  to  recognize  in  it,  the  hand  of  that  kind  Pro- 
vidence, who  has  thus  disposed  the  hearts  of  his  crea- 
tures, and  who  has  promised  to  be  the  '  support  of  the 
widow,  and  the  father  of  the  fatherless.' 

"  New-York,  Nov.,  1830." 

In  the  following  notice  of  Bishop  Hobart  I  shall 
merely  condense  what  I  have  said  more  fully  in  my 
memorial  of  his  life,  and  the  sermon  which  I  preached 
on  the  occasion  of  his  death. 

John  Henry  Hobart  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  on 
the  14th  day  of  September,  1775.  He  received  his 
first  instruction  in  English  in  the  school  of  a  Mr.  Les- 
lie, who  was  considered  a  respectable  teacher,  and  who 
was  deservedly  held  in  esteem.  In  his  ninth  year  he 
commenced  the  study  of  Latin  in  the  Episcopal  Acade- 
my, the  charge  of  which,  soon  after  his  admission,  was 
committed  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Andrews,  a  ripe  scholar, 
an  admirable  instructor,  and  a  sound  Churchman,  who 
at  once  united  in  his  character  all  that  conciliates  af- 
fection and  esteem,  and  challenges  profound  respect. 
Mr.  Hobart  could  not,  therefore,  have  set  out,  in  the 
commencement  of  his  education,  under  greater  advan- 
tages, or  under  better  auspices. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  277 

It  is  but  seldom  the  case,  however,  in  regard  to  the 
most  eminent  among  men,  that  childhood  presents 
much  that  is  worthy  of  notice  at  the  time,  and  it  is  still 
more  rare,  that  there  should  be  anything  so  striking  as 
to  be  recollected  in  after  life.  The  fond  anticipations 
of  friends,  indeed,  often  attach  a  great  degree  of  im- 
portance to  circumstances  that  are  trifling  in  them- 
selves, but  which  are  regarded  as  indications  of  future 
greatness.  Even  these  are  apt  to  be  forgotten  by  the 
most  partial,  unless  they  happen  to  correspond  with 
the  event.  In  respect  to  Mr.  Hobart,  it  is  known,  that 
the  most  nattering  expectations  were  indulged  by  those 
who  were  near  to  him  ;  that  some  of  them  lived  to  wit- 
ness his  growing  reputation  $  that  others  were  spared 
long  enough  to  behold  the  fullnlment  of  all  their  wish- 
es ; — but  it  appears,  that  these  things  were  reserved 
for  the  secret  and  cherished  enjoyment  of  their  own 
hearts — for  the  free  communications  of  the  domestic 
circle,  or  the  correspondence  of  family  friends.  I  have 
learned  from  one  who  knew  him  in  youth,  and  who 
was  intimate  with  his  family,  that  his  deportment,  con- 
versation, opinions  and  habits,  were  the  frequent  and 
favourite  theme  of  their  discourse,  and  that  they  often 
dwelt  with  delight  on  those  incidents  which  shadowed 
out  the  very  character  that  he  finally  established.  His 
childhood  and  youth  presented  a  rare  assemblage  of 
the  most  engaging  qualities  of  heart  and  mind,  which 
were  the  sure  presages  of  eminence  and  respect  in  af- 
ter life. 

Modesty,  ingenuousness,  purity  of  thought,  and 
blamelessness  of  manners,  secured  for  him  the  esteem 
and  affection  of  all  those  early  companions,  whose 


278  HISTORY    OF 

friendship  he  valued,  and  screened  him  from  the  malev- 
olence and  censure  of  those  whose  society  he  shunned. 
His  industry  in  all  his  studies,  his  ambition  to  outstrip 
his  competitors,  and  his  uniform  success,  his  acknow- 
ledged superiority,  and  the  open  approbation  of  his 
teachers,  appear  neither  to  have  excited  the  ill  will  or 
dislike  of  those  whom  he  humbled  by  his  proficiency, 
nor  to  have  provoked  the  jealousy  of  those  with  whom 
the  contest  was  more  keenly  maintained.  In  fact, 
with  the  innate  consciousness  of  genius,  he  concealed 
the  marks  of  triumph,  which  it  cost  him  but  little  la- 
bour to  achieve  5  and  bearing  his  faculties  meekly,  he 
was  the  favourite  of  his  school,  the  idol  at  College,  and 
the  oracle  of  every  Society  with  which  he  was  con- 
nected. In  the  sports  of  childhood  or  in  the  recrea- 
tions of  youth,  he  mingled  with  his  companions  on  a 
common  footing,  assuming  no  consequence  and  expect- 
ing no  deference  ;  but  with  all  the  ease,  and  freedom, 
and  sprightliness  of  his  character,  he  entered  into  the 
mood  of  the  moment,  and  contributed  his  full  share 
towards  their  innocent  enjoyments.  Indeed,  there 
seems  to  have  been  a  charm  in  his  manners  and  con- 
versation, which  was  almost  like  fascination,  for  no  one, 
in  early  life,  ever  inspired  friendship  more  readily,  or 
was  more  happy  in  retaining  the  regards  which  he  had 
once  secured. 

In  1791  he  entered  Princeton  College,  New-Jersey, 
through  which  he  passed  with  great  reputation.  At  a 
very  early  age  he  showed  that  readiness  in  the  acqui- 
sition of  knowledge,  which  distinguished  him  so  much 
through  the  whole  course  of  his  life,  and  without  the 
plodding  diligence  and  patient  application  of  many  of 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  279 

his  fellow  students,  he  nevertheless  succeeded,  on 
taking  his  Batchelor's  degree  in  1793,  in  sharing  with 
another,  the  first  honour  of  his  class. 

Just  after  Mr.  Hobart  had  graduated  at  Princeton 
College,  all  the  promise  of  his  aspiring  genius  was  on 
the  eve  of  being  blighted  for  ever,  by  an  unexpected 
change  in  his  pursuits.  From  the  beginning,  the  whole 
bent  of  his  mind  had  been  directed  towards  the  acqui- 
sition of  knowledge.  Childhood  had  been  spent  in  as- 
siduous study  5  reading  was  his  delight  $  every  species 
of  information,  attractive  to  young  minds,  wns  sought 
with  avidity.  After  having  passed  through  the  prepa- 
ratory stages  of  an  academical  education,  in  a  way 
which  encouraged  the  hope  of  success,  and  finally  sur- 
passed the  fondest  anticipations  of  his  friends,  he  was 
induced,  by  their  solicitations  and  advice,  to  resign  the 
fruits  of  his  labour,  to  change  the  aim  of  his  life,  and 
to  prepare  himself  for  a  new  vocation,  in  which,  with 
all  his  bright  gifts,  lie  would  probably  have  sunk  b< !  >W 
the  mere  drudges  of  business.        v 

With  an  affectionate  heart,  which  was  alive  to  the 
comfort  and  happiness  of  all  around  him,  he  yielded  to 
domestic  considerations,  and  rcf-olved  to  enter  upon 
mercantile  pursuits.  Nothing  couid  be  more  foreign 
to  his  taste,  predilections  and  habits.  In  the  estab- 
lishment which  he  entered  there  was  an  early  friend,* 
who  was  strongly  attached  to  him,  who  had  a  just  esti- 
mate of  his  character,  and  had  watched  with  delight 
the  development  of  those  faculties,  of  which  he  had 

*  James  Robinson,  Esq. 


280  HISTORY    OF 

long  before  formed  a  pleasing  augury,  and  who  now 
rejoiced  in  the  fulfillment  of  his  hopes.  This  friend, 
who  had  been  brought  up  in  Scotland,  and  imbued  with 
that  love  of  literature  which  often  gives  a  liberal  cast, 
even  to  those  who  are  not  destined  for  the  learned  pro- 
fessions, regarded  the  plan  with  pain  and  regret.  He 
knew  that  a  mind  thus  trained  could  not  be  subjected 
to  so  new  a  discipline  5  that  with  whatever  fidelity  and 
diligence  these  duties  might  be  discharged,  they  would 
not  be  pursued  with  ease  and  pleasure  $  and  that,  fi- 
nally, after  a  great  loss  of  valuable  time,  they  would  be 
relinquished  in  weariness  and  disgust.  Though,  there- 
fore, a  beloved  and  cherished  companion  was  thus 
brought  near  to  him,  he  still  lamented  that  he  was  out 
of  place.  The  motives,  however,  which  led  to  the  sa- 
crifice were  too  delicate  and  commendable  to  admit  of 
any  opposition. 

Mr.  Hobart  commenced  his  new  employment  with 
all  the  industry,  ardour,  and  zeal  for  which  he  was 
distinguished  in  after  life.  But  the  effort  was  vain — 
it  was  against  the  whole  bias  of  his  nature,  and, 
would  it  be  presumptuous  to  say — against  the  designs 
of  Providence  ?  A  season  of  leisure  came,  which  gave 
him  an  opportunity  of  resuming,  at  intervals,  his  favor- 
ite pursuits.  The  return  of  these  pure  and  intellectual 
enjoyments  revived  all  his  love  for  them  5  he  could 
endure  his  vocation  no  longer  5  his  repugnance  was 
invincible.  His  friends  perceiving  it,  yielded  to  his 
wishes,  and  he  abandoned  it  for  ever. 

Having  found  that  this  pursuit  was  uncongenial  to 
his  taste  and  habits,  u^on  an  invitation  which  he  re- 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  281 

ceived  from  Dr.  Smith,  the  President  of  Princeton 
College,  to  become  a  tutor  in  the  institution,  he  soon 
returned  to  that  seat  of  learning,  where  he  had  im- 
bibed his  own  love  of  letters,  and  there  spent  two  years 
in  the  instruction  of  others.  In  this  capacity  he 
acquitted  himself  with  remarkable  address  and  ability, 
uniting  the  utmost  vigilance  and  activity  in  the  main- 
tenance of  discipline,  to  a  winning  affability  of  deport- 
ment, which  gained  the  affections,  and  secured  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  the  students.  In  all  his  public 
performances  he  was  listened  to  with  pleasure  and 
admiration  j  in  his  class  he  was  a  diligent  and  efficient 
instructor,  and  in  conducting  all  the  operations  of  the 
College,  a  leading  and  influential  member  of  the  Fa- 
culty. From  the  earliest  period  of  life,  in  whatever 
sphere  he  might  be  moving,  he  would  always  become 
one  of  the  principal  agents  in  controlling  its  transac- 
tions. He  was  a  member  of  the  Whig  Society,  where 
he  generally  attended  the  meetings,  and  always  main- 
tained a  decided  ascendancy.  There  is  one  incident 
in  connection  with  it,  which  strikingly  illustrates  a 
peculiarity  that  marked  him  in  after  life — the  intense 
interest  which  he  took  in  every  thing  in  which  he  was 
engaged.  So  eagerly  did  he  apply  himself  to  the  objects 
and  plans  of  this  Institution,  that  some  years  after  he 
had  attended  its  meetings,  when  the  records  of  it  were 
destroyed  by  (ire,  he  was  able  from  memory  to  furnish 
its  members  substantially,  and  almost  literally,  with  a 
complete  copy  of  their  constitution  and  laws. 

Mr.  Hobart  resided  at  Princeton  until  the  spring 
of  1798,  when  he  returned  to  Philadelphia,  and  was 

ordained  Deacon,  in  the  month  of  June,  by  Bishop 
18 


282  HISTORY    OF 

White.*  In  compliance  with  the  wishes  of  the  Bish- 
op, who,  from  having  known  him  from  his  childhood, 
was  exceedingly  anxious  to  keep  him  near  to  him,  he 
accepted  the  charge  of  Trinity  Church,  Oxford,  and 
All  Saints  Pequestan,  in  the  vicinity  of  Philadelphia. 
During  the  time  that  he  officiated  in  these  churches, 
he  discharged  all  his  duties  with  the  greatest  fidelity 
and  zeal,  and  the  people  were  entirely  satisfied  with 
his  labours  5  but,  as  they  were  scattered  over  a  consid- 
erable extent  of  country,  so  much  time  was  consumed 
in  attending  to  his  parochial  duties,  as  to  leave  him  but 
little  for  study.  He  soon  perceived  the  utter  impossi- 
bility of  reconciling  the  disadvantages  of  his  situation 
with  that  high  standard  in  the  knowledge  of  his  pro- 
fession to  which  his  ardent  and  ambitious  mind  aspired. 
Under  the  influence  of  this  consideration,  he  determin- 
ed to  leave  it,  and  accepted,  in  1799,  an.  invitation  to 
Christ  Church,  New-Brunswick. 

The  situation  at  New-Brunswick,  however,  though 
possessing  some  advantages  which  he  prized,  did  not 
altogether  correspond  with  his  wishes  j  and  his  atten- 
tion was  then  turned  towards  the  Parish  at  Hempstead, 
on  Long-Island,  the  charge  of  which  he  shortly  after 
accepted.  He  had  just  declined  an  opportunity  of 
being  settled  in  St.  Mark's  Church,  in  this  city,  pre- 
ferring the  humble  appointment  at  Hempstead.  In 
the  spring  of  1800,  he  married  Mary  Goodin  Chandler, 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Chandler,  so  greatly  distin- 
guished, both  at  home  and  abroad,  for  his  eminent 

*  And  in  the  month  of  April,  1801,  he  was  ordained  Priest  in  Trin- 
ity Church,  New-York,  by  Bishop  Provoost. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  283 

services  to  the  Church,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the 
brightest  ornaments. 

With  a  passionate  fondness  for  the  beauties  of  na- 
ture and  rural  pursuits,  it  was  his  earliest  plan  to  pass 
his  days  in  the  calm  and  unambitious  occupations  of  a 
country  clergyman's  life,  and  to  the  last  he  sighed  for 
retirement  and  peace.  But,  though  such  was  the 
natural  bent  of  his  inclination,  the  sphere  was  too 
narrow  for  the  exertions  of  his  ardent  and  active 
mind.  The  situation  at  Hempstead  was  found  upon 
trial,  neither  suited  to  his  taste  nor  wishes.  lie  was 
not  apparently  aware  of  the  source  of  his  weariness 
and  disquietude,  nor  of  the  higher  part  which,  in  the 
designs  of  Providence,  he  was  destined  to  fill  $  but 
under  the  influence  of  these  undefinable  feelings,  of 
the  very  existence  of  which  he  seemed  unconscious, 
he  took  the  first  step  in  that  more  useful  and  glorious 
career  which  he  afterwards  ran. 

He  was  soon  drawn  from  his  retreat,  and  accepted 
the  office  of  an  Assistant  Minister  in  Trinity  Church  5 
and  entering  with  characteristic  vivacity  and  zeal  upon 
the  duties  of  his  new  situation,  he  at  once  attracted 
general  notice,  and  acquired  an  influence  in  the  coun- 
cils of  the  Church  beyond  his  years.  In  this  new  and 
important  situation,  Mr.  Hobart  fully  sustained  the  re- 
putation as  a  preacher  which  he  had  already  acquired. 

Many  of  us  are  old  enough  to  remember  with  what 
impassioned  bursts  of  youthful  eloquence  he  stirred  up 
the  affections  of  his  hearers,  with  what  fervour  and 
unction  he  spoke  of  divine  things,  with  what  an  eleva- 
tion of  soul  he  lifted  us  up  with  him  to  Heaven.  The 
rich,  full,  and  varied  tones  of  his  voice,  the  unrestrain- 


284  history  or 

ed  tenderness  of  his  sentiments,  expressed  with  the 
utmost  pathos,  the  freedom  and  severity  of  his  expos- 
tulations and  rebukes,  the  evangelical,  practical  char- 
acter of  all  his  discourses.,  made  that  an  interesting 
period  of  his  ministry,  to  all  who  had  the  happiness  of 
hearing  him.  As  he  advanced  in  life,  from  the  more 
subdued  tone  of  the  mind  and  the  severer  exercise  of 
the  judgment,  some  of  these  charms  were  in  a  measure 
diminished.  But  still,  what  was  lost  in  one  respect 
was  repaid  in  another.  He  brought  his  improved  and 
vigorous  powers  to  the  elucidation  of  scriptural  truth? 
setting  it  in  as  clear  a  light  as  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  theology  and  a  lucid  intellect  could  place  it,  and 
still  he  never  valued  himself  so  much  on  the  successful 
treatment  of  this  part  of  his  subject,  as  to  neglect  that 
practical  improvement  of  it  which  he  considered,  after 
all,  the  great  end  of  preaching. 

Though  he  had  not  studied  elocution  with  such  care 
as  to  be  always  accurate  in  emphasis  and  accent,  yet 
nature  had  gifted  him  with  a  voice  but  seldom  equall- 
ed in  compass,  richness  and  melody }  so  that,  by  the 
variety  of  its  intonations,  he  could  give  such  an  effect 
even  to  the  most  common  sentiments,  as  very  often 
could  not  have  been  produced  by  the  highest  elo- 
quence in  others.  There  was  not  the  slightest  appear- 
ance of  labour  nor  effort,  even  when  he  was  most 
impassioned  J  and  he  could  throw  into  expostulation 
all  its  earnestness,  into  terror  a  thrilling  energy,  into 
persuasion  a  soothing  tenderness,  into  pathos  the  very 
plaintiveness  of  woe.  The  effect  of  his  manner  was 
also  increased,  in  the  early  part  of  his  ministry,  by  his 
preaching  memoriter,  a  practice  which  he  adopted 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  285 

from  his  extreme  short-sightedness,  and  which  gave  to 
his  sermons  the  ease  and  animation  of  extemporaneous 
discourses ;  and  after  this  practice  was  abandoned,  he 
still  made  himself  so  familiar  with  them,  as  to  avoid 
-embarrassment  and  confusion  in  their  delivery.  This 
is  a  just  description  of  him,  as  he  appeared  upon  his 
first  settlement  in  the  parish,  when  free  from  the  re- 
straints of  that  sobering  influence  which  crept  upon 
him  in  maturer  age,  and  from  that  regard  which  he 
felt  to  be  due  to  the  gravity  of  his  office,  when  raised 
to  a  more  exalted  station.  But  the  striking  character- 
istics of  his  eloquence  were  never  materially  altered  j 
and  while  his  discourses  were  greatly  improved  in  their 
arrangement,  matter,  and  style,  they  were  to  the  last 
delivered  with  remarkable  animation  and  force. 

He  also  performed  his  duties  as  a  pastor  with  the 
utmost  promptitude,  fidelity,  and  zeal.  He  attached 
great  importance  to  this  part  of  his  sacred  functions, 
both  on  aceount  of  the  edification  and  comfort  which 
were  thus  administered  to  the  people,  and  the  respect, 
affection,  and  influence,  which  these  attentions  were 
so  apt  to  secure  for  the  clergy  themselves.  He  was, 
therefore,  always  ready  for  any  parochial  call.  No 
considerations  of  ease  or  pleasure  were  suffered  to  in- 
terfere with  it  •,  the  engagements  of  company,  whether 
at  home  or  abroad,  were  interrupted  }  study  was  laid 
aside  5  every  occupation  or  pursuit,  however  agreea- 
ble, gave  place  to  this  important  duty.  The  cheerful- 
ness with  which  it  was  performed  cannot  be  duly 
appreciated,  unless  it  be  remarked,  that  he  was  settled 
in  a  parish  consisting  of  three  large  congregations,  in 


286  HISTORY    OF 

which  there  were,  at  all  times,  so  many  of  the  sick  and 
the  dying  who  needed  the  consolations  of  religion,  and 
where  the  cemeteries  which  belonged  to  it  were  the 
common  burial  places  of  nearly  all  the  Episcopalians 
in  a  populous  city. 

He  was  singularly  happy  in  his  visitation  of  the  sick, 
as  I  have  often  had  occasion  to  observe  when  I 
chanced  to  be  with  him.  The  ease  and  freedom  of  his 
manner,  united  with  the  greatest  tenderness  and  deli- 
cacy, at  once  removed  embarrassment,  and  drew  forth 
from  those  with  whom  he  conversed  an  unrestrained 
expression  of  their  feelings  and  views.  The  readiness 
with  which  he  applied  his  general  observations,  and 
the  felicity  with  which  he  adapted  his  quotations  from 
Scripture  to  the  respective  circumstances  of  their  case, 
gave  to  all  that  he  said  a  peculiar  interest  and  force  j 
and  the  impression  was  made  still  deeper  by  the  so- 
lemnity and  fervour  with  which  he  offered  up  the 
prayers. 

Regarding  also  his  vow  not  only  to  visit  the  sick, 
but  the  well  within  his  cure,  he  devoted  as  mucli  of  his 
time  to  this  duty  as  could  conveniently  be  taken  from 
his  other  numerous  and  pressing  engagements.  Among 
these  he  mingled,  with  the  easy  familiarity  of  a  friend, 
imposing  no  restraint  upon  their  cheerful  conversation 
or  innocent  enjoyments,  but  securing  their  good-will 
and  affection  by  his  sociability  and  kindness,  and  at  the 
same  time  not  losing  sight  of  the  dignity  of  his  charac- 
ter, nor  the  obligations  of  his  calling,  but  often  availing 
himself  of  suitable  opportunities  to  season  common 
discourse  with  such  words  as  might  "minister  grace 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  287 

unto  the  hearers."  How  often  are  the  recollections  of 
these  happy  hours  awakened  in  thousands,  with  a  gush 
of  tenderness  that  they  can  be  enjoyed  no  more  ! 

There  was  something  wonderfully  winning  and  at- 
tractive in  his  social  character,  and  even  in  the  pecu- 
liar cast  of  his  manners.  He  seemed  formed  for  the 
enjoyment  of  society  and  the  delights  of  friendship. 
Ardent  in  his  feelings,  frank  and  undisguised  in  the 
expression  of  them,  generous,  affectionate,  and  confid- 
ing, he  captivated  all  hearts,  and  bound  those  to  him 
who  were  of  congenial  taste  and  temper,  as  with  links 
of  iron.  His  manners  were  in  harmony  with  his  dis- 
position, full  of  freedom,  cordiality,  and  warmth.  No 
one  who  has  seen  him,  though  but  for  a  moment,  will 
ever  forget  the  benignant  and  playful  expression  cf  his 
countenance,  the  heartiness  of  his  greeting,  his  words 
of  kindness  and  good-will.  But  to  those  who  com- 
muned with  him  as  friends,  who  saw  him  in  the  lighter 
moods  of  social  festivity,  or  in  the  graver  moments  of 
deep  and  tender  feeling — who  remember  the  charms  of 
his  conversation,  the  endearments  of  his  friendship,  his 
wise  and  wholesome  counsels,  his  acts  of  sympathy 
and  kindness — to  those  his  image  is  ever  arising,  with 
all  the  dear  departed  joys  of  which  it  reminds  them, 
and  with  a  sense  of  dreariness  and  vacancy  which 
nothing  else  on  earth  can  fill. 

The  recollections  of  him  at  a  period  of  his  life  which 
was  so  interesting  to  myself,  are  so  fresh  and  vivid  that 
I  cannot  forbear  from  representing  him  in  the  soft 
and  pleasing  lights  in  which  he  then  appeared.  In 
after  years,  when  the  labours  and  cares  of  his  high  and 
responsible  office  were  constantly  increasing,  and  vex- 


288  history  or 

ations  of  various  kinds  rose  up  to  disturb  his  peace  and 
thwart  his  usefulness,  and  each  wearisome  day  was 
closed,  as  I  have  often  heard  him  remark,  with  some 
anxious  thought  for  the  morrow,  there  were  very  fre- 
quently observed  in  him  an  abstraction  of  mind,  an 
abruptness  of  manner,  a  hastiness  of  expression,  and  a 
sudden  transition  from  one  subject  to  another,  which 
broke  in  upon  his  own  social  enjoyments,  and  lessened 
the  degree  of  that  pleasure  which  he  was  wont  to 
impart  in  his  intercourse  with  his  friends.  But  then,  the 
frankness  which  never  forsook  him,  notwithstanding  it 
was  so  often  most  ungenerously  abused,  was  shown 
without  restraint — his  warm  heart  poured  out  its  feel- 
ings in  all  their  fulness — his  buoyant  spirits  were  never 
depressed.  In  his  family  he  was  affectionate,  to  a  de- 
gree of  almost  feminine  tenderness,  playful  as  his  child- 
ren, and  fond  even  of  the  domestic  animals,  with  which 
he  was  always  surrounded.  His  guests  felt  no  re- 
straint in  his  company,  nor  was  he  at  all  restrained  by 
their's,  but  just  suffered  his  character  to  appear  in  its 
natural  light,  and  gave  utterance  to  his  thoughts  and 
feelings  as  they  rose  up  in  his  mind,  according  to  the 
varying  mood  of  the  moment.  Notwithstanding  he 
was  never  idle,  he  always  seemed  to  have  time  for  his 
friends,  welcoming  them  with  unfeigned  cordiality,  and 
letting  them  go  with  reluctance  and  regret. 

But  his  warm  and  benevolent  feelings  were  never  so 
engagingly  shown  to  the  young,  as  when  in  a  friendly 
ramble  or  a  ride  to  his  favourite  and  beautiful  retreat 
in  New-Jersey,  he  entered  with  a  paternal  interest 
into  all  their  views  and  plans,  encouraging  them  by  his 
praise,  and  edifying  them  by  his  counsel,  or  else  with  a 


TRINITY  CIIITRCII,  NEW-YORK.  289 

flattering  confidence  laid  open  to  them  his  own.  All 
the  barriers  between  age  and  youth,  between  wisdom 
and  ignorance,  were  broken  down ;  and  where  he  saw 
in  the  young,  ingenuousness,  piety  and  worth,  even 
though  mingled  up  with  imperfections  and  follies,  he 
seemed  to  anticipate  the  fruits  of  promise,  and  to  com- 
mune with  them  at  once  as  companions  and  friends. 
The  heart  melts  at  these  recollections,  and  is  poured 
out  like  water. 

The  strong  attachment  of  Mr.  Hobart  to  the  dis- 
tinctive principles  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  his 
bold,  active,  and  persevering  defence  of  them  at  all 
times,  through  good  and  through  evil  report,  were 
striking  peculiarities  in  his  character  and  life.  He  was 
constantly  endeavouring  to  rouse  others  to  a  sense  of 
their  importance,  and  by  his  indefatigable  labours,  his 
noble  enthusiasm,  even  in  the  cause  of  soberness  and 
truth,  and  the  influence  of  his  talents,  character  and 
station,  he  revived  the  languid  zeal  of  Episcopalians, 
gave  a  new  tone  to  their  sentiments  in  this  diocese, 
and  stamped  the  impress  of  his  own  mind  and  feelings 
on  thousands  throughout  the  Church  at  large.  Pro 
Ecclesia  Dei  he  adopted  in  as  full  a  sense  as  the  u  ve- 
nerable prelate*  by  whom  these  words  were  first  cho- 
sen as  the  standard  of  his  wishes,  his  duties,  his  labours, 
his  dying  prayers." 

In  promoting  her  welfare  the  most  humble  efforts 
were  exalted  in  his  sight  by  the  dignity  and  importance 
of  the  object.  Much  that  he  has  done  in  this  way  was 
never  perfectly  known.     The  hope  of  doing  good  was 

*  Archbishop  Whitgift. 


290 


HISTORY  OF 


his  only  motive,  and  the  advantage  of  it  to  others  his 
only  reward. 

I  cannot  forbear  in  this  place,  from  making  some  re- 
marks on  a  peculiarity  in  the  conduct  of  this  faithful 
and  devoted  servant  of  the  Lord,  which  showed  itself 
upon  his  very  entrance  into  the  ministry,  and  which 
continued  to  be  more  and  more  strongly  marked  till  it 
was  finally  closed.     Utility  seemed  to  be  the  sole  end 
of  his  labours — mere  literary  fame  was  regarded  as 
nothing.     With  a  mind  of  a  highly  original  cast — with 
a  thorough  education,  which  might  have  enabled  him 
to  accomplish  even  great  undertakings — with  a  soaring 
ambition,  which  raised  him  in  many  respects,  to  an  un- 
disputed pre-eminence  above  all  his  brethren — he  still 
never  found  any  work  too  humble  for  him,  in  which 
there  was  a  prospect  of  doing  good.     Whatever  was  in 
any  way  connected  with  the  spiritual  edification  of 
others,  however  little  it  might  contribute  to  his  perso- 
nal reputation,  seemed  to  be  of  sufficient  importance  in 
his  eyes,  to  make  it  worthy  of  his  labour  and   care. 
With  this  view  the  Companion  for  the  Altar,  and  the 
Companion  for  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  were 
written.     With  the  same  view  the  Companion  for  the 
Festivals  and  Fasts,  the  Clergyman's  Companion,  the 
Christian's  Manual,  and  the  Commentary  of  Mart  and 
Doyly,  were   re-published.      He    even  took  pains  to 
adapt  the  simple  Catechism  of  the  Church,  to  the  ten- 
der minds  of  those  who  were  too  young  to  give  the  an- 
swers which  are  therein  required,  and  enlarged  it  for 
those  who  were  more  advanced,  with  a  comprehensive- 
ness and  skill  which  made  it  almost  as  profitable  an 
exercise  to  the  teacher  as  the  learner.     If  the  time 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  291 

which  was  spent  in  making  material  alterations  in  some 
of  these  works,  and  laborious  additions  to  others,  had 
been  employed  in  systematic  study,  and  in  the  execu- 
tion of  any  one  of  the  original  plans  which  were  float- 
ing in  his  mind,  he  would  not  only  have  had  the  repu- 
tation of  an  eloquent  preacher,  an  acute  polemic  and 
a  sound  theologian,  but  also  of  a  finished  scholar  and 
profoundly  learned  divine. 

Besides  the  original  works  which  he  wrote,  his  em- 
endations of  others,  and  his  numerous  compilations,  he 
undertook,  in  18C8,  a  periodical  publication,  entitled 
the  Churchman's  Magazine,  which  was  strictly  de- 
voted to  the  maintenance  of  the  same  sound  principles 
that  had  hitherto  been  the  ruling  aim  of  his  labours, 
exhibiting  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  and  the  Church 
which  he  purchased  with  his  blood,  in  all  her  integrity, 
purity  and  glory.  Though  aided  in  this  work  by  many 
of  his  brethren,  whose  views  and  feelings  were  in  har- 
mony with  his  own,  yet  he  contributed  largely  to  it 
himself.  In  what  way  he  found  time,  amidst  the  press- 
ing duties  of  his  parochial  charge,  to  unite  these  lite- 
rary labours  with  his  many  other  engagements  and 
cares,  was  always  a  matter  of  admiration  and  surprise. 
He  was  a  Trustee  of  the  Society  Library,  and  of  Co- 
lumbia College )  a  member  of  the  Standing  Committee, 
and  the  Committee  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel ; 
Secretary  of  the  Society  for  promoting  Religion  and 
Learning,*  of  the  Bible  and  Common  Prayer  Book  So- 
ciety ;  of  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese,  and  of  the 
General  Convention.  And  in  all  these  bodies  he  was 
an  active  and  efficient  member,  thoroughly  versed  in 


292  HISTORY    OF 

their  constitutions  and  laws,  interested  in  their  objects 
and  designs,  skilled  in  their  business,  and  attentive  to 
it,  anxious  for  their  welfare,  prompt  in  his  suggestions, 
fluent  and  eloquent  in  debate,  sound,  judicious,  and 
practical  in  all  his  views.  In  addition  to  all  this,  he 
was  an  accurate  observer  of  human  nature.  He  pe- 
netrated at  once  into  the  character  of  others,  saw  their 
weakness  and  their  strength,  and  knew  how  to  con- 
trol them  both.  With  an  almost  intuitive  perception, 
he  comprehended  at  a  glance  all  the  bearings  of  any 
subject  under  discussion,  seized  upon  the  leading  points, 
and  anticipated  its  results.  If  there  were  any  time  for 
preparation,  he  also  brought  to  it  the  fruits  of  mature 
reflection  and  industrious  research.  It  may  easily  be 
imagined,  then,  how  soon  he  began  to  acquire  an  in- 
fluence, in  all  the  institutions  with  which  he  was  con- 
nected, and  prepared  the  way  for  that  ascendancy 
which  he  finally  gained  in  the  Councils  of  the  Church. 
In  every  stage  of  his  ministerial  course  we  follow 
him  with  admiration  and  delight  $  we  find  him  always 
active,  useful,  and  beloved — throwing  his  whole  heart 
and  soul  into  his  duties — sparing  himself  in  nothing, 
but  running  beyond  the  strict  measure  of  his  engage- 
ments— calling  forth  the  energies  of  his  restless  and 
powerful  mind,  in  every  public  labor  or  plan  which 
might  contribute  to  the  interests  of  the  Church  and  to 
the  glory  of  God.  While  he  thus  rendered  himself,  in 
the  earlier  years  of  his  ministry,  a  general  favorite,  and 
enjoyed  an  almost  unbounded  popularity,  he  was  not 
corrupted  by  adulation.  No  man  whom  I  ever  knew 
had  a  heart  more  open  to  all  human  sympathies,  nor 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  293 

valued  more  highly  well-merited  praise ;  but  with  him 
it  was  rather  a  stimulus  to  laudable  exertions,  than  an 
encouragement  to  vain-glory  and  pride. 

It  was  not  in  the  course,  however,  of  human  things, 
that  he  should  escape  the  obloquy  and  censure  which 
are  the  uniform  attendants  of  eminence  and  worth. 
When,  from  his  long  and  useful  labours,  and  his  extra- 
ordinary gifts,  the  eyes  of  the  Church  were  fixed  upon 
him  as  the  person  who  was  peculiarly  fitted  to  direct 
her  councils  and  advance  her  growth,  he  was  assailed 
with  unmeasured  abuse,  and  his  exaltation  was  usher- 
ed in  with  every  evil  omen  of  tyranny,  misrule,  and 
woe.  He  soon  passed  through  this  eclipse,  and  emerged 
from  it  with  a  brightness  which  continued  to  increase 
till  his  career  was  closed. 

Notwithstanding  the  violent  opposition  that  was 
made  to  him,  he  was  elected  to  the  Episcopate  by  a 
triumphant  majority,  at  a  Special  Convention,  held  in 
New-York,  on  the  second  Tuesday  in  May,  1811, 
which  had  been  called  together  for  the  purpose  of  pro- 
viding an  Assistant  to  Bishop  Moore,  who,  from  age 
and  infirmity,  had  withdrawn  from  the  exercise  of  his 
office.  Dr.  Hobart  was  consecrated  in  Trinity  Church, 
on  the  29th  of  the  same  month,  together  with  the  Rev. 
Alexander  Viets  Griswold.  Bishop  White  acted  as 
consecrator,  Bishop  Provoost  and  Bishop  Jarvis  assist- 
ing*, and  according  to  the  usage  of  the  Church  of 
England,  Bishop  White  first  laid  hands  on  Mr.  Hobart, 
as  a  Doctor  of  Divinity,  though  Mr.  Griswold  was  his 
senior,  both  in  age  and  the  ministry.  It  was  a  day  of 
rejoicing  to  the  whole  Church,  and  one  of  the  deepest 
interest  to  myself,  who  was  present  on  the  occasion. 


294  HISTORY   OF 

There  is  a  very  important  feature  in  the  public 
character  of  Bishop  Hobart,  which,  perhaps,  in  the 
first  place,  contributed  more  than  any  thing  else  to 
his  elevation  to  the  Episcopal  Office,  and  after  he  had 
attained  it,  to  the  increase  of  his  influence  and  con- 
sideration. His  talents  for  public  business  were  of  the 
highest  order.  Fond  of  its  excitement,  patient,  of  all 
its  details,  clear  and  sagacious  in  his  views,  prompt  in 
action,  full  of  resources,  there  was  nothing  which  he 
did  not  understand,  and  nothing  which  he  was  not  at 
all  times  prepared  to  engage  in  with  interest  and  to  act 
upon  with  decision.  He  was,  therefore,  one  of  the  few 
who  form  the  life  and  soul  of  every  public  assembly, 
and  who  influence,  direct,  and  control  its  deliberations. 
Without  being  forward  or  assuming,  he  was  always 
self-possessed,  confident  in  his  own  powers,  prepared 
for  any  emergency,  and  roused  to  a  more  vigorous 
exertion  of  his  intellect  when  taken  by  surprise. 

To  all  his  other  remarkable  qualifications,  our  rever- 
ed Bishop  added  a  zeal  which  was  never  quenched,  an 
industry  which  never  tired,  an  activity  which  the  hand 
of  death  alone  could  arrest.  He  was  unsparing  in  his 
labours  and  unceasing  in  his  watchfulness  over  the 
Diocese  committed  to  his  care,  so  that  he  was  almost 
as  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  circumstances  of 
every  Parish  in  the  State  as  with  the  condition  of  his 
own.  His  industry  was  without  a  parallel  ;  and  I  think 
that  I  shall  hardly  be  accused  of  exaggeration  in  ex- 
pressing my  own  opinion,  that  very  few  Bishops  of  any 
age  or  nation,  since  the  time  of  the  Apostles,  have 
surpassed  him  in  zeal,  activity,  diligence,  and  the  suc- 
cess of  his  labours. 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  295 

The  peculiar  and  numerous  cares  of  his  public  sta- 
tion did   not  materially  interfere,  however,  with   his 
faithful  and  vigilant  discharge  of  the  more  humble  du- 
ties of  a  pastor,  after  his  elevation  to  the  Episcopal 
office.     His  visitation  of  the  diocese,  though  often  ex- 
tending to  the  most  remote  parts  of  the  State,  and  com- 
prehending a  vast  field  for  exertion — from  the  celerity 
of  his  movements  and  his  power  of  enduring  both  men- 
tal and  bodily  fatigue,  was  accomplished  in  so  short  a 
period  as  to  seem  almost  incredible  to  those  who  read 
the  account  of  his  labours.     The  rest  of  the  year  was 
in  a  great  measure  devoted  to  the  ordinary  duties  of 
the  parish.     And  here,  though  both  Bishop  and  Rec- 
tor, he  claimed  no  exemption  from  any  of  them  on  ac- 
count of  his  multiplied  engagements,  but  preached  as 
regularly  in  his  course  as  the  ministers  who  were  asso- 
ciated with  him,  and  attended  with  the  same  cheerful- 
ness to  every  parochial  call.     Indeed  he  seldom  availed 
himself  of  those  opportunities  of  leisure  which  it  might 
have  seemed  that  he  needed,  but  took  more  pleasure 
in  giving  relief  to  others  than  in  enjoying  it  himself.     I 
have  especial  reasons  for  a  grateful  recollection  of  his 
kindness  in  this  respect,  which  was  so  often  shown  to 
me  during  a  season  of  declining  health,  as  to  lighten 
labours  which  would  otherwise  have  been  oppressive. 
It  was  a  peculiarity  of  his  mind,  to  fasten  with  the 
same  tenacity  upon  the  object  before  him,  whether  it 
were  minute  or  important,  and  to  feel  that  temporary 
interest  in  either  case,  which  was  sure  to  procure  for 
it  a  due  degree  of  attention.     Forever  restless  and  ac- 
tive, it  seemed  to  be  constantly  revolving  within  it  all 
the  different  objects  with  which  he  was  concerned,  so 


296  HISTORY    OF 

that  nothing  escaped  his  recollection  and  notice.  He 
was,  therefore,  not  less  prompt  in  attending  to  the  mi- 
nor objects  of  his  parochial  charge,  than  to  the  more 
weighty  cares  of  his  extensive  Diocese. 

No  man  was  ever  more  careful  than  Bishop  Hobart 
to  regulate  his  public  conduct  by  general  principles, 
nor  more  ready  in  applying  these  principles  to  partic- 
ular cases.  And  when  his  mind  was  clearly  made  up 
as  to  the  correctness  of  the  rule,  he  never  suffered 
himself  to  be  moved  by  temporary  expedients,  by  per- 
sonal feeling,  by  popular  excitement,  by  the  desire  of 
praise,  or  fear  of  clamour  and  reproach,  but  went  on 
steadily  and  firmly  in  his  course.  To  men  of  narrow 
and  wavering  minds,  who  could  neither  comprehend  a 
subject  in  all  its  bearings,  nor  act  with  resolution  even 
upon  their  own  convictions,  his  conclusions  at  times 
seemed  rash  and  precipitate,  his  conduct  harsh  and 
ungracious,  and  his  perseverance  and  consistency  mere 
obstinacy  and  pride.  But  he  generally  secured  at  once 
the  approbation  of  the  bold  and  sagacious  5  and  not- 
withstanding temporary  opposition,  very  often  suc- 
ceeded in  finally  carrying  with  him  the  public  mind. 
This  was  remarkably  exemplified  in  the  following 
circumstance  : 

In  1815,  the  Bishop  published  a  Pastoral  Letter  to 
the  Laity  of  the  Church  in  his  Diocese,  on  the  subject 
of  Bible  and  Common  Prayer  Book  Societies.  Here 
he  took  the  unpopular  ground,  that  our  institutions  for 
religious  purposes  should  be  conducted  in  our  own 
way,  and  on  our  own  principles,  without  any  union  or 
amalgamation  with  those  of  other  bodies  of  Christians. 
The  great  indifference  to  the  distinguishing  principles 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  297 

of  the  Church,  even  among  many  of  our  own  people, 
from  an  ignorance  of  their  nature  and  importance,  the 
false  notions  of  liberality  prevailing  among  those  who 
were  better  informed,  and  the  general  disapprobation 
at  that  time,  among  other  denominations,  of  a  policy 
which  was  regarded  as  narrow,  selfish,  and  almost 
intolerant  would  have  made  such  an  appeal  to  the 
Clergy  themselves,  a  bold  and  startling  measure.  But 
confident  that  he  was  right,  and  sure  of  their  general 
support,  when  the  matter  should  be  duly  weighed,  he 
determined  to  address  himself  at  once  to  his  people  at 
large,  to  whom  it  was  still  more  new  and  strange.  He 
always  had  a  strong  reliance  on  the  good  sense  of  the 
community,  and  was  persuaded  that  the  just  and  rea- 
sonable cause,  when  properly  supported,  would  finally 
prevail  over  prejudice  and  error.  In  the  present  in- 
stance he  was  not  deceived. 

But  Bishop  Hobart  did  not  merely  confine  his  soli- 
citude to  the  exclusive  character  of  our  institutions, 
but  was  unwearied  in  his  exertions  to  promote  their 
useful  and  important  ends.  Humble  as  they  were, 
in  their  infant  operations,  they  were  not  beneath  his 
paternal  care.  Backward,  as  our  people  were  in 
their  support,  he  was  never  discouraged.  He  attended 
the  meetings  of  all  our  Societies,  whenever  it  was  practi- 
cable, and  was  among  the  first  to  be  present  and  the  last 
to  retire.  He  entered  into  the  minutest  details  of  their 
business — took  a  lively  interest  in  all  their  proceed- 
ings— noticed  every  change  in  their  condition — sug- 
gested expedients  for  their  improvement  when  they 
were  languishing,  and  rejoiced  at  every  appearance  of 

their  growth  and  success.     The  most  of  these  Soeie," 
19 


298  HISTORY  OF 

ties  were  originally  established,  with  the  approbations 
of  the  ecclesiastical  authority,  by  a  few  young  men? 
who  united  with  the  activity  and  ardor  of  youth,  much 
of  the  prudence  and  judgment  of  maturer  years  j  whose 
pious  zeal  was  tempered  by  an  enlightened  attachment 
to  the  distinctive  principles  and  usages  of  our  Churchy 
and  whose  efforts  were  as  earnest  and  persevering  in 
promoting  the  cause  of  soberness  and  truth,  as  those 
of  others  in  spreading  enthusiasm  and  error.      The 
Bishop  delighted  in  this  little  band.      He  animated 
them  on  all  occasions  by  his  approbation  and  praise. 
He  looked  to  their  example  for  a  succession  of  active 
labourers  in  those  societies  which  were  so  essentially 
connected  with  the  welfare  of  the  Church.     And  many 
of  them,  in  the  recollection  of  his  parental  watchful- 
ness and  regard,  still  feel  the  impulse  which  he  gave  to 
their  exertions,  and  go  on  in  their  course  with  unabated 
ardour  and  zeal. 

The  labours  of  Bishop  Hobart  in  his  extensive  dio- 
cese, where  the  points  to  be  visited  were  often  very 
remote  from  his  place  of  residence  and  from  each 
other,  and  in  the  large  parish,  of  which  he  was  Rector? 
where  both  the  temporal  and  spiritual  cares  were  more 
weighty  than  usual,  would  have  been  enough  to  break 
down  the  physical  strength  of  most  men,  and  to  have 
distracted  and  overwhelmed  their  minds.  But,  in  1816, 
he  received  an  invitation  to  visit  the  Diocese  of  Con- 
necticut 5  and  deeming  it  important  to  the  interests  of 
that  section  of  the  Church,  that  Episcopal  duties  should 
not  be  intermitted  there,  he  cheerfully  consented  to 
make  this  new  addition  to  his  labours. 

Wherever  he  came,  though  merely  to  visit  the  con- 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  299 

gregations,  there  was  always  a  degree  of  excitement. 
From  the  respect  which  was  entertained  for  his  sacred 
office,  the  persuasion  of  his  superior  wisdom,  and  the 
advantages  of  his  ripe  experience,  his  discourses  were 
heard  with  that  deep  attention  which  is  due  to  the  ex- 
position of  God's  word,  and  his  suggestions  received  as 
the  counsels  of  paternal  authority.  In  consecrating 
churches,  he  came  to  mingle  his  congratulations  with 
the  joy  of  the  people  upon  the  crowning  of  their  la- 
bours, their  efforts,  and  their  prayers,  and  to  raise  their 
thoughts  from  the  house  of  the  Lord  on  earth,  which 
wras  so  dear  to  their  hearts,  to  the  beauty  and  glory  of 
the  Church,  triumphant  in  heaven.  And  when  new 
labourers  were  sent  forth  into  the  vineyard  of  the 
Lord,  both  he  and  others  indulged  in  the  delightful  an- 
ticipation of  a  more  abundant  and  joyful  harvest. 

Besides,  there  was  something  in  the  social  character 
of  the  Bishop,  which  heightened  the  interest  of  his  of- 
ficial intercourse  with  his  people.  His  sympathies  were 
always  with  the  company  in  which  he  chanced  to  be, 
and  his  heart  in  the  business  in  which  he  was  engaged. 
With  persons  of  education  and  refinement  he  was  at 
his  ease,  and  he  accommodated  himself,  without  any 
effort,  to  those  of  low  degree.  Frank,  courteous,  and 
accessible,  no  one  was  embarrassed  either  by  the  dignity 
of  his  station  or  the  superiority  of  his  talents.  Even  his 
peculiarities,  which  were  somewhat  remarkable,  his  ab- 
ruptness in  conversation,  his  absence  of  mind,  the 
quickness  of  his  movements,  the  playfulness  of  his  re- 
marks, and  his  occasional  disregard  of  the  ordinary 
forms  of  society,  did  not  materially  lessen  the  rever- 
ence for  his  character,  while,  at  the  same  time  they  in- 


300  HISTORY    OF 

creased  the  affection  for  his  person.  Without  a  spirit 
of  adulation,  he  had  a  singular  faculty  of  making  men 
pleased  with  themselves,  by  directing  the  conversation 
to  the  subjects  in  which  they  were  interested,  or  to  the 
pursuits  or  studies  in  which  they  excelled.  From  the 
keenness  of  his  discernment,  a  slight  acquaintance  was 
sufficient  for  him  to  gain  an  accurate  knowledge  of 
the  character  of  those  into  whose  company  he  was 
thrown  5  and  from  the  importance  of  this  knowledge 
in  the  station  which  he  occupied,  wherever  he  had  any 
doubts,  he  was  very  careful  to  correct,  or  confirm  his 
own  observations  by  the  information  which  he  could 
procure  from  others.  Seldom  therefore,  forming  an 
erroneous  estimate  of  men,  he  mingled  among  them 
on  an  easy  footing,  with  great  gratification  to  them  and 
advantage  to  himself. 

In  the  fall  of  1822,  as  has  been  before  observed, 
Bishop  Hobart  had  an  attack  of  bilious  intermittent 
fever  at  his  country-seat  in  New-Jersey,  which  was 
the  precursor  of  that  series  of  attacks  which  gradu- 
ally impaired  his  constitution  and  finally  occasioned 
his  death. 

Though  he  soon  appeared  to  have  recovered,  in  a 
great  measure,  from  this  severe  illness,  yet  towards  the 
close  of  the  following  summer,  being  still  feeble,  and 
feeling  the  need  of  relaxation,  he  proposed  to  make  an 
excursion  to  Quebec,  and  wished  me  to  accompany 
him.  The  weather  was  remarkably  fine,  the  scenery, 
throughout  a  great  part  of  the  route,  though  familiar 
to  us  both,  was  too  varied  and  beautiful  to  be  seen 
again  with  indifference,  and  the  latter  portion  of  the 
journey  had  all  the  freshness  and  charm  of  novelty. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW- YORK.  301 

But  the  pleasure  of  the  first  part  of  our  excursion, 
was  a  singular  contrast  with  the  pain  and  suffering  of 
our  return.  We  set  out  by  land,  and  before  the  close 
of  the  first  day  the  Bishop  was  seized  with  a  most  vio- 
lent bilious  attack,  which  filled  me  with  anxiety  and 
alarm.  We  travelled  in  wretched  cabriolets,  which 
were  sufficiently  uneasy  vehicles  for  those  who  were 
well,  but  which  were  agonizing  to  one  who  was  deadly 
sick.  We  had  to  stop  frequently  on  the  road  5  but, 
upon  the  slightest  intermission  of  suffering,  the  Bishop 
was  impatient  to  proceed,  and  he  came  back  to  his 
home  much  worse  than  when  he  left  it.  It  was  this 
attack,  from  which  he  did  not  entirely  recover  after 
his  return,  that  suggested  the  thought  of  his  visit  to 
Europe. 

His  constitution  was  now  so  much  impaired,  that 
there  seemed  to  be  no  prospect  of  the  renovation  of 
his  health,  except  from  a  thorough  change  of  scene, 
and  a  long  and  complete  recreation  from  his  laborious 
duties  and  distracting  cares,  and  arrangements  were 
accordingly  made  for  his  immediate  departure. 

He  set  sail  on  the  24th  of  September,  1823,  in  the 
ship  Meteor,  Captain  Gardiner,  and  arrived  at  Liver- 
pool on  the  29th  of  October.  He  was  every  where 
received,  in  his  journey  through  England,  with  cordial- 
ity and  kindness  ;  and  in  the  month  of  December  he 
made  a  visit  to  Scotland. 

The  similarity  of  the  Scotch  Episcopal  Church  to 
our  own,  in  its  separation  from  the  State,  and  in  its 
claims  to  regard  from  its  spiritual  character  alone, 
together  with  the  interesting  fact,  that  the  first  bishop 
of  our  Church  received  his  consecration  from  the 
Episcopal  Church  of  Scotland,  had  created  a  very 


302  HISTORY    OF 

peculiar  and  endearing  relation  between  them.  The 
greeting  of  Bishop  Hobart,  therefore,  in  that  country, 
though  it  could  not  be  more  cordial  than  it  had  been 
in  England,  was  more  universal.  He  was  not  only 
heartily  welcomed  by  those  with  whom  he  had  cor- 
responded, but  with  the  same  demonstrations  of  joy 
by  all. 

It  will  doubtless  be  no  less  a  matter  of  surprise  to 
the  public  than  of  unfeigned  regret,  that  a  portion  of 
Bishop  Hobart's  life,  so  replete  with  interest  to  himself 
as  that  which  he  passed  in  Europe,  must  in  a  great 
measure  be  a  blank  to  others.  He  made  notes,  in- 
deed, of  the  objects  on  the  route  with  which  he  was 
struck,  in  every  country  which  he  visited,  but  they 
were,  with  a  few  exceptions,  naked  and  unfinished 
sketches.  While  his  recollections  were  fresh  and 
vivid,  he  himself  might  have  filled  them  up  in  such  a 
way  as  to  form  many  a  delightful  picture,  but  he  never 
found  time  for  it,  and  they  are  now,  therefore,  lost  for 
ever.  These  notes  were  for  the  most  part  written  with 
a  pencil,  and  were  very  often  faded  and  illegible  5  and 
even  where  they  could  be  read  with  ease,  they  were 
too  broken  and  imperfect  for  publication.  They  were 
chiefly  confined  to  the  general  aspect  of  the  country 
through  which  he  was  passing,  to  its  beautiful  and 
romantic  scenery,  and  to  those  varieties  in  its  modes 
of  agriculture,  in  the  style  of  its  buildings,  and  the  cos- 
tume and  manners  of  its  inhabitants,  in  which  it  was 
distinguished  from  our  own.  He  was  a  passionate 
admirer  of  nature,  in  all  her  diversified  and  changing 
orms.  He  was  enthusiastically  fond  of  rural  pursuits. 
That  he  dwelt  so  much,  then,  on  these  things  in  the 
notes  which  he  took,  is  not  surprising  to  those  who 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  303 

knew  him.     The  rural  charms,  the  tasteful  improve- 
ments and  perfect  cultivation  of  England,  the  rugged 
grandeur  of  Switzerland,  and  the  blending  of  all  beau- 
ty and  glory  in  the  enchanting  scenes  of  Italy,  were  a 
source  of  exquisite  enjoyment  to  him  5    and  many  a 
delightful  recollection  of  these  countries  have  we  call- 
ed up  together,  which  had  been  so  pleasant  to  us  both. 
But  it  is  somewhat  remarkable  that  he  made  no 
memoranda  of  those  things  in  which  he  was  still  more 
interested  than  in  nature  itself.     The  business  of  life, 
the  study  of  mankind,  and  the  great  interests  of  reli- 
gion, were  the  objects  which  were  always  uppermost 
in  his  mind.     But  though  he  mingled  with  the  most 
eminent  personages,  contemplated  society  under  forms 
so  different  from  our  own,  observed  such  a  variety  of 
characters,  and  heard  so  many  things  which  were 
worthy  of  note,  yet  he  neither  drew  the  portraits  of 
those  whom  he  saw,  nor  left  any  record  of  their  opin- 
ions.    Whether  he  was  influenced  in  this  by  motives 
of  delicacy,  or  whether  it  arose  out  of  neglect,  it  is 
impossible  to  determine.     Among  his  personal  friends 
these  things  were  the  frequent  and  delightful  theme  of 
his  conversation. 

During  his  visit  to  England,  he  published  two  volumes 
of  his  sermons,  which  were  also  soon  after  re-printed 
in  this  country.  They  were  his  ordinary  parochial 
discourses,  which  were  designed  merely  for  the  pulpit, 
without  the  slightest  view  to  publication.  From  the 
multitude  of  his  avocations  and  cares,  but  little  time 
was  left  to  him  for  the  preparation  of  his  sermons ;  and 
even  when  he  happened  to  have  more  leisure,  from  the 
mere  force  of  habit,  and  his  remarkable  facility  in  this 
species  of  composition,  they  were  generally  written  in 


304 


HISTORY    OF 


the  same  haste.  They  are  by  no  means,  therefore, 
the  best  specimen  either  of  his  style  or  of  his  powers. 
Besides,  many  of  them  were  composed  when  he  was 
comparatively  young,  before  the  first  had  attained  its 
final  form,  or  the  last  their  full  maturity  and  vigour. 

His  charges  and  pastoral  letters,  which  were  writ- 
ten with  greater  care,  and  sometimes  under  stronger 
excitement,  are  among  the  most  chaste  and  forcible  of 
his  writings  5  and  some  of  his  controversial  pieces  are 
the  fairest  exhibition  of  his  theological  learning  and 
intellectual  powers. 

When  the  health  of  Bishop  Hobart  had  been  im- 
paired by  excessive  labours  both  of  body  and  mind, 
and  a  temporary  relaxation  from  his  duties  having 
been  found  unavailing,  it  was  thought  indispensable  to 
his  restoration  that  he  should  travel  abroad,  there  was 
such  a  general  manifestation  of  sympathy  and  concern, 
as  was  never  perhaps  exhibited  among  us  on  any  simi- 
lar occasion. 

An  address  from  the  clergy  was  put  into  his  hands 
on  the  eve  of  his  embarkation,  expressing,  with  no  Jess 
sincerity  than  warmth,  their  affection  for  his  person, 
their  respect  for  his  character,  their  prayers  for  his 
safety  during  his  journey,  for  the  restoration  of  his 
health,  and  for  his  return  to  the  useful,  zealous,  and 
faithful  labours  by  which  his  Diocese  had  been  so  sig- 
nally blessed  ;  offering  up,  likewise,  prayers  for  them- 
selves, that  they  might  have  grace  to  preserve  the 
Church  in  his  absence  from  declining  from  that  degree 
of  unity,  prosperity,  and  purity  to  which  it  had  been 
raised  under  his  administration.  A  throng  of  parish- 
oners  and  friends  pressed  around  him  at  the  moment 
of  his  departure,  with  anxious  and  sorrowing  hearts, 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  305 

to  bid  him  farewell ;  and  some  felt  but  little  less  than 
the  Ephesian  converts  in  parting  with  St.  Paul,  from 
the  painful  apprehension  that  they  might  see  his  face 
no  more.  The  most  of  his  clergy  who  were  resident 
in  the  city  accompanied  him  many  miles,  and  then 
watched  with  fond  and  lingering  regret  the  last  glimpse 
of  the  sails  which  bore  him  hence.  During  the  first 
few  months  they  waited  for  news  from  him  with  eager 
impatience  5  and  through  the  whole  course  of  his  jour- 
ney and  protracted  absence,  they  were  by  turns  both 
cheered  and  depressed.  But  when  he  came  back 
renovated  in  constitution,  buoyant  in  spirits,  and  over- 
flowing with  kindness  towards  all  whom  he  met,  he 
was  hailed  with  universal  joy.  A  more  deep  and  heart- 
felt welcome  was  never  given  to  any  one  on  his  return 
to  his  native  land. 

The  Annual  Convention  of  the  Diocese  was  held 
shortly  after  his  return.  The  feelings  of  the  clergy  and 
laity  from  all  parts  of  the  State  were  in  unison  with 
those  which  prevailed  in  the  city,  and  there  was,  there- 
fore, a  general  desire  to  make  a  public  demonstration 
of  them  on  this  interesting  occasion.  But  though  there 
were  none  who  did  not  wish  to  unite  in  this  testimony 
of  gratitude  for  the  happy  return  of  the  Bishop,  yet 
there  were  a  few  who,  not  agreeing  with  him  in  some 
of  his  opinions,  and  in  the  main  points  of  his  policy, 
were  anxious  that  the  resolutions  should  be  so  framed 
as  merely  to  express  their  sentiments  of  personal  at- 
tachment and  respect,  and  their  high  sense  of  his  use- 
fulness, piety  and  worth.  With  a  view,  therefore,  to 
render  it  an  unanimous  act,  some  of  his  friends  who 
agreed  with  him  in  all  points,  unhappily  yielded  to  this 
'consideration,  and  in  a  spirit  of  accommodation,  as 


306  HISTORY    OF 

unusual  as  it  was  unwise,  drew  them  up  in  such  a 
vague  and  general  form  as  deprived  them  of  all  the 
force,  character,  and  value  which  could  make  them 
worthy  of  his  acceptance. 

The  Bishop  had  met  his  clergy  and  people  with  a 
generous  warmth,  which  was  most  cordially  recipro- 
cated. He  knew  that,  with  very  few  exceptions,  they 
were  of  one  heart  and  one  soul.  He  knew  on  what  ac- 
counts he  was  particularly  distinguished  and  esteemed. 
Any  good  and  amiable  prelate,  however  weak,  irreso- 
lute and  wavering,  might  have  received  this  praise,  and, 
therefore,  on  the  day  after  the  resolutions  were  adopt- 
ed, he  rose  in  his  place,  and  in  the  bitterness  of  a 
jealous  and  wounded  affection,  rejected  it  with  scorn. 
Never  did  I  hear  any  person,  in  voice,  manner,  or  ex- 
pression, so  eloquent.  It  was  all  nature,  feeling,  and 
passion,  wrought  up  to  the  highest  pitch.  He  repre- 
sented this  proceeding  as  a  crafty  device  of  his  oppo- 
sers,  and  an  act  of  weak  compliance  on  the  part  of  his 
friends.  Under  the  appearance  of  congratulation  and 
praise,  it  left  out  all  those  notices  of  the  characteristic 
and  prominent  points  of  his  principles  and  policy, 
which  it  had  been  the  labour  of  his  life  to  extend, 
through  good  and  evil  report,  and  in  which  he  placed 
his  glory  and  pride.  It  neither  exhibited  him  as  he 
was  known  at  home,  nor  as  he  was  valued  abroad. 
It  was  not  agreeable  to  the  just  and  affectionate  trib- 
ute which  had  been  presented  to  him  on  his  departure, 
nor  was  it  the  kind  of  commendation  which  he  coveted 
on  his  return.  It  was  a  diluted  and  weakened  praise, 
which  was  in  no  way  applicable  to  one  who  had  always 
stemmed  the  current  of  popular  opinion,  and  he  there- 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  307 

fore  requested  that  the  resolutions  should  be  expunged 
from  the  minutes. 

This  is  the  mere  faint  and  imperfect  recollection  of 
a  speech  which  was  so  bold  and  powerful  as  to  bow 
the  hearts  of  the  whole  assembly  as  of  one  man.  The 
justness  and  force  of  it  were  in  the  main  universally 
felt.  The  particular  friends  of  the  Bishop  were  grieved 
at  the  pain  which  they  had  given  him,  and  mortified 
by  the  error  inlo  which  they  had  fallen.  The  reso- 
lutions were  modified  in  such  a  way  as  to  give 
them,  an  appropriate  character  5  and  this  fearless 
vindication  of  his  fame,  so  far  from  being  regarded  as 
a  display  of  arrogance  and  pride  was  only  considered 
as  a  proof  of  that  elevation  of  mind  which  glories  in  an 
honourable  course  rather  than  in  undistinguishing  and 
popular  applause. 

The  remainder  of  Bishop  Hcbart's  life  was  spent  in 
the  active  and  unwearied  discharge  of  his  important 
duties ;  from  the  rapid  growth  of  the  church  his  la- 
bours were  constantly  increasing,  but  with  renewed 
health,  with  buoyant  spirits,  and  greater  energy  than 
ever,  both  of  body  and  mind,  he  went  through  them 
with  such  ease  and  cheerfulness  as  led  us  all  to  hope 
that  they  might  long  be  continued,  when,  in  the  inscru- 
table providence  of  God  they  were  about  to  be  closed 
for  ever. 

On  a  visitation  of  a  portion  of  his  Diocese,  in  the 
western  part  of  the  State,  he  was  seized  with  a  bilious 
fever  and  died  at  Auburn,  the  12th  of  September,  1830. 
Melancholy  as  was  his  separation  from  his  family  and 
so  many  of  his  dearest  friends  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
yet  it  would  seem  as  if  God  had  so  ordered  it  that  he 
should  die  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty,  as  a  beautifu1 


308  HISTORY    OF 

and  appropriate  close  to  a  life  which  had  been  spent 
in  his  service. 

God  in  his  providence,  seemed  to  have  endued  him 
with  all  the  qualities,  both  mental  and  physical,  which 
fitted  him  for  his  exalted  station,  and  which,  in  a  spirit 
of  piety  and  faith  he  consecrated  entirely  to  his  glory  5 
quickness  of  perception,  vigour  and  manliness  of 
thought,  the  most  tenacious  memory  in  connection 
with  the  soundest  judgment,  a  keen  and  almost  uner- 
ring penetration  into  the  character  of  others,  and  very 
often  a  remarkable  ascendancy  over  their  conduct  5 
promptness  in  action,  wisdom  in  counsel,  skill  and  elo- 
quence in  debate;  an  energy  of  character  which 
nothing  could  repress  $  an  activity  of  mind  and  body 
which  was  never  suspended  5  a  perseverance  which 
rested  only  when  its  object  was  attained  j  a  noble  and 
insatiable  desire  of  doing  things  more  excellent  than 
those  which  he  had  already  accomplished. 

But  there  was  one  trait  in  his  character  which  shines 
out  with  peculiar  glory — it  was  his  moral  courage. 
Nervous  in  the  temperament  of  his  body,  his  mind  was 
as  firm  as  a  rock.  He  feared  none  but  God.  It  was 
this  which  marked  his  course  in  the  Church,  with  a 
track  of  light  which,  we  trust,  will  grow  brighter  and 
brighter  unto  the  perfect  day.  He  saw  the  true  grounds 
upon  which  the  Church  rested,  and  he  had  firmness 
enough  to  avow  his  opinions  without  qualification  or 
disguise.  He  saw  the  true  policy  by  which  she  was  to 
be  sustained,  and  he  pursued  it  without  regard  to  the 
anxious  fears  of  her  temporizing  friends,  or  the  cla- 
mours of  her  secret  or  open  foes.  He  kept  the  prin- 
ciples of  Apostolic  order  in  connexion  with  Evangeli- 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  309 

cal  truth  perpetually  in  view,  explaining  them  in  his 
writings,  inculcating  them  in  his  discourses,  enforcing 
them  in  his  conversation,  and  fortifying  them  by  a  stea- 
dy and  unalterable  adherence  in  practice.  He  pressed 
upon  his  people  the  uncompromising  and  exclusive 
claims  of  the  Church,  and  left  the  consequences  of 
their  rejection  to  others,  not  without  pity  indeed  for 
their  errors,  nor  charity  for  their  motives,  but  with  a 
desire  that  was  stronger  than  any  other  feeling,  that  all 
should  come  to  the  knowledge  of  what  he  deemed  the 
truth. 

In  contending  for  Episcopacy  as  the  primitive  pat- 
tern of  the  Church  and  the  appointment  of  God,  in  en- 
forcing her  order  and  discipline,  in  guarding  against  all 
direct  violation  of  her  principles  and  usages,  and  dis- 
couraging all  amalgamation  with  other  denominations 
for  religious  purposes,  which  might  even  remotely  en- 
danger the  interests  of  truth  j  it  is  almost  incredible  to 
relate  with  what  contumely,  scorn,  and  reproach  he 
was  assailed,  from  the  very  outset  of  his  course  till  its 
triumphant  close.  But  none  of  these  things  moved 
him.  He  lived  long  enough  to  see  what,  in  the  begin- 
ning, he  was  convinced  of,  that  a  just  cause,  when 
manfully  defended,  would  never  want  supporters  5  that 
truth  would  gradually  prevail  over  prejudice  and  error ; 
and  that  a  bold  and  honest  policy  would  be  ultimately 
crowned  with  success.  The  impress  of  his  mind  was 
stamped  upon  thousands  ;  a  new  tone  was  given  to  the 
church  at  large  $  and  we  may  confidently  hope,  that 
his  opinions  will  be  extended,  and  his  labours  be  blessed, 
for  generations  to  come. 

Bishop  Hobart  died  in  the  fifty-fifth  year  of  his  age, 


310  HISTORY    OF 

leaving  behind  him  a  widow,  three  sons,  and  four 
daughters.  His  remains  were  brought  from  Auburn, 
and  deposited  beneath  the  chancel  of  Trinity  Church. 
In  a  recess  behind  it,  a  large  and  splendid  monument 
was  erected  to  his  memory,  which  was  beautifully  and 
tastefully  adorned  in  basso  relievo,  with  an  emblemati- 
cal representation  of  the  hopes  and  consolations  of 
religion,  on  which  there  is  the  following  inscription : 

BENEATH    THIS     CHANCEL    KEST    THE    MORTAL    REMAINS    OF 

JOHN    HENRY   HOBART, 

RECTOR  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH,  IN  THIS  CITY  : 

BISHOP    OF   TnE    PROTESTANT    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH    IN    THE    STATE    OP 

NEW-YORK. 

BORN  IN  PHILADELPHIA,  SEPTEMBER  XIV.  MDCCLXXV. 

DIED,  DURING    A    VISITATION    TO    THE    WESTERN    PARTS    OF    HIS 
DIOCESE,  IN  AUBURN,  SEPTEMBER  XII.  MDCCCXXX. 

THE    VESTRY,   IN   BEHALF    OF    THE    ASSOCIATED    CONGREGATIONS    OF 

TRINITY  CHURCH, 

HAVE  CAUSED  THIS  MONUMENT  TO  BE  ERECTED 

IN    MEMORY    OF    THE     PUBLIC    SERVICES,    PRIVATE    VIRTUES,    AND 

CHRISTIAN  GRACES  OF  THEIR  BELOVED  AND  LAMENTED 

PASTOR; 

IN  TESTIMONY  OF  THEIR  RESPECT  FOR  THE  WISDOM,  ENERGY, 
AND    PIETY    OF    THEIR    REVERED 

DIOCESAN; 
IN    HONOUR    OF   THE    FAITHFUL    AND    VALIANT 

U  SOLDIER  OF  CHRIST  j " 

WHO    ON    ALL    OCCASIONS    STOOD    FORTH,    THE    ABLE    AND    INTREPID 

CHAMPION  OF  THE  CHURCH  OF  GOD. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  311 

The  Rectory  having  become  vacant  by  the  death  of 
Bishop  Hobart,  it  was  resolved  on  the  11th  of  Oct., 
1830,  that  the  Church  Wardens  and  Vestrymen 
should  proceed  to  supply  the  said  vacancy  by  the  elec- 
tion of  a  Rector,  and  the  ballots  having  been  counted 
and  canvassed,  it  was  found  that  I  was  unanimously 
elected.  Messrs.  Johnson  and  Lorillard  were  appoint- 
ed a  committee  to  notify  me  of  the  fact,  with  whom  I 
returned,  and  having  been  introduced  to  the  Vestry,  and 
signified  my  acceptance  of  the  office,  I  took  my  seat 
accordingly. 

On  the  following  day  I  was  duly  inducted  into  Tri- 
nity Church,  by  the  deliverance  to  me  of  the  keys  of 
the  said  Church,  and  of  St.  Paul's  and  St.  John's  Cha- 
pels, such  delivery  being  made  to  me  by  the  Church 
Wardens  in  the  presence  of  the  Vestrymen,  and  also 
of  Edward  Coates,  Richard  Slack,  and  Albert  Wun- 
nenburgh,  the  Sextons  of  the  said  Church  and  Chapels 
respectively,  as  witnesses. 

The  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church  having  at  all  times  in 
view  not  merely  the  interests  of  the  Congregation  they 
represent,  but  of  the  Diocese  at  large,  so  early  as  the 
1st  of  June,  1812,  resolved  that  the  sum  of  $  15,000 
should  with  all  convenient  speed  be  raised  and  paid  to 
the  Treasurer  of  the  Episcopal  fund  in  aid  of  the  same. 
This  was  in  consequence  of  a  resolution  of  the  Con- 
vention that  as  soon  as  the  fund  should  amount  to 
$  100,000  the  Bishop  should  receive  his  support  out  of 
the  income  thereof,  and  be  no  longer  connected  with 
a  Parish.  In  1830,  the  Vestry  resolved  to  increase 
the  amount  proposed  in  1812  to  $30,000,  whenever 
the  said  fund,  from  collections  in  the  Diocese,  should 


312  HISTORY    OF 

amount  to  $70,000  and  as  soon  as  it  had  reached  this 
point  ,  which  was  not  until  1835,  this  liberal  grant  was 
formally  made. 

The  division  of  the  Diocese  however,  in  1838,  in- 
volved with  it  also,  in  some  measure  a  division  of  the 
Fund.  Such  a  portion  of  the  capital  of  it  was  neces- 
sarily withdrawn  for  the  support  of  the  Bishop  of  Wes- 
tern New-York,  as  left  a  considerable  deficiency  in  the 
interest  of  the  remainder  to  meet  the  engagements 
which  had  previously  been  made  by  the  Convention 
with  the  Bishop  of  New-York. 

The  Vestry  again  stepped  in  with  their  accustomed 
liberality  to  supply  this  deficiency,  amounting  to  $1600 
per  annum,  on  the  express  condition,  that  the  several 
Parishes  in  the  Diocese  should  make  the  regular  col- 
lections for  the  fund  provided  by  the  Canon,  which  by 
a  careful  calculation  would  have  restored  it,  as  was  sup- 
posed, in  thirteen  years  to  the  amount  originally  pro- 
posed. 

With  a  most  discreditable  want  of  good  faith,  on  the 
part  of  a  majority  of  them  at  least,  this  condition  was 
never  fulfilled,  till  the  patience  of  the  Vestry  being  en- 
tirely exhausted,  the  annual  allowance  was  at  length 
withdrawn.  Towards  the  object  itself,  however,  they 
were  never  indifferent,  for  in  addition  to  the  ample 
grant  of  $30,000,  they  purchased  a  large  and  commo- 
dious house  for  the  Episcopal  residence,  which,  with 
a  portion  of  the  furniture  designed  for  the  permanent 
use  of  those  who  should  successively  inhabit  it,  and 
with  extensive  alterations  and  improvements,  cost  the 
Vestry  $20,000  more. 

On  the  10th  of  Jan.,  1831,  the  Rector  having  nomi- 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  .313 

nated  the  Rev.  Henry  Anthon  an  Assistant  Minister  of 
this  Church,  the  nomination  was  approved.  Dr.  An- 
thon continued  his  connection  with  the  Parish  until 
his  election  as  Rector  of  St.  Mark's  Church,  New- 
York,  when  he  sent  in  his  resignation,  on  the  23d  of 
December,  1836. 

On  the  23d  of  March,  1836,  the  Rev.  Jonathan  M. 
Wainwright,  D.  D.,  was  appointed  an  Assistant  Min- 
ister of  Trinity  Church,  on  the  supposition  that  the 
appointment  would  be  agreeable  to  him,  but  which 
unexpected  circumstances,  however,  prevented  him 
from  accepting.  In  the  following  year  the  invitation 
was  repeated  and  accepted,  and  he  still  continues  in 
the  Parish  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties. 

On  the  13th  of  June,  1836,  the  Rev.  Edward  Y. 
Higbee  was  also  appointed  an  Assistant  Minister  of 
Trinity  Church.  Deep  domestic  affliction,  however, 
prevented  Dr.  Higbee  from  entering  upon  the  duties  of 
his  office  until  the  following  autumn,  in  which  he  con- 
tinues to  be  engaged  at  the  present  time. 

In  1836,  the  Episcopal  Fund  having  reached  the 
point  which  was  deemed  requisite  for  the  support  of 
the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese,  Bishop  Onderdonk's  connec- 
tion with  Trinity  Church  was  consequently  dissolved. 
The  deep  humiliation  to  which  he  has  since  been  re- 
duced, and  the  obloquy,  the  scorn,  and  contempt  with 
which  he  has  been  loaded,  will  not  prevent  me  from 
exhibiting  him  as  he  was  in  the  estimation  of  his  friends 
and  in  his  relations  to  this  Parish. 

I  had  been  at  that  time  in  habits  of  the  closest  and 

dearest  intimacy  with  him  for  thirty  years.    I  became 

acquainted  with  him  at  College  in  early  life,  he  was 
20 


314  HISTORY    OF 

my  fellow  student  in  Divinity,  and  as  soon  as  he  was 
ordained,  he  was  associated  with  me  in  the  same  Pa- 
rish, from  opening  manhood  till  he  had  considerably 
passed  the  period  of  middle  age.  From  our  common 
duties  and  our  mutual  regard,  we  were  brought  into 
constant  intercourse  with  each  other,  so  that  all  his  in- 
firmities end  faults,  as  well  as  his  virtues  and  graces, 
were  laid  open  before  me. 

In  his  very  youth  he  was  grave,  sedate  and  thought- 
ful, to  a  degree  which  is  seldom  seen  ,*  correct  in  his  prin- 
ciples 5  pure  in  heart,  and  unspotted  in  life.  In  his 
academic  pursuits  and  in  his  preparation  for  the  min- 
istry, he  was  so  unwearied  in  his  diligence  and  so  lau- 
dable in  his  ambition  as  to  have  distinguished  himself 
greatly  in  both.  And  when  he  at  length  entered  upon 
the  exercise  of  his  office,  it  was  with  such  a  devout 
temper  of  mind,  such  a  conscientious  view  of  his  du- 
ties, and  such  a  fixed  determination  to  discharge  them 
as  within  the  range  of  my  observation,  at  least,  has  ne- 
ver been  surpassed.  These  duties,  in  the  very  outset 
of  his  course  in  this  extensive  Parish,  were  exceedingly 
heavy.  But  he  never  shrunk  from  any  labour,  he 
never  tired  in  his  own  work,  nor  hesitated  in  an  emer- 
gency to  help  his  brethren. 

He  had  at  once  the  physical  strength  which  enabled 
him  to  bear  the  utmost  degree  of  labour,  and  the  ready 
will  to  perform  it  with  cheerfulness. 

But  he  was  not  only  indefatigable  in  the  perform- 
ance of  his  public  duties,  but  most  assiduous  and  faith- 
ful as  a  pastor,  going  about  continually  doing  good,  and 
especially  among  the  sick  and  the  needy,  the  afflicted 
and  distressed. 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  315 

This  pastoral  attention  to  the  members  of  the  Parish, 
was  a  duty  to  which  I  had  always  attached  the  great- 
est importance  mysolf,  and  which,  according  to  my 
ability,  I  had  endeavoured  to  discharge.  1  was  con- 
stantly among  the  people,  where  he  was  held  in  the  ut- 
most respect  and  affection,  and  where,  until  several 
years  after  his  entrance  into  the  Episcopate,  the  breath 
of  reproach  had  never  reached  him. 

They  are  witnesses  with  me  how  holily  and  unbla- 
mably  he  behaved  himself  among  us.  I  doubt  not 
that  "  we  may  depart  from  grace  given,"  yet  still  I 
have  great  confidence  in  the  general  truth  of  that  pro- 
mise of  God,  "The  Lord  ordereth  a  good  man's  going 
and  maketh  his  way  acceptable  to  himself."  And  I 
can  never  be  brought  to  believe,  except  on  more  con- 
vincing testimony  than  I  have  yet  met  with,  that  one, 
who  in  early  life  and  in  riper  years  delighted  in  His 
ways,  and  who  so  highly  adorned  the  vocation  where- 
with he  was  called,  has  fallen  into  such  "  wretchlessness 
of  living"  as  is  ascribed  to  him,  on  the  very  verge  of  old 
age. 

During  the  vacancies  which  had  occurred  in  the 
Parish,  by  the  Bishop's  separation  from  it,  and  the  re- 
signation of  Dr.  Anthon  and  Dr.  Schroeder,  the  Rector 
was  authorized,  on  each  of  these  occasions  to  select  suit- 
able persons  to  fill  them  for  a  time,  and  the  Rev.  Hewlet 
R.  Peters,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Seabury,  and  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Ogilby,  were  successively  appointed. 

In  1839,  it  was  discovered  that  the  roof  of  Trinity 
Church,  in  consequence  of  some  defect  in  the  plan  of 
the  building  or  want  of  skill  in  the  construction  of  it, 
had  yielded  to  the  pressure  of  the  mass  of  snow  with 


316  HISTORY    OF 

which  it  had  been  sometimes  covered,  and  that  the  co- 
lumns which  were  supposed  to  sustain  it,  had  swerved 
from  their  place.     A  temporary  expedient  was  resort- 
ed to  in  the  first  instance  to  correct  the  evil,  but  this 
only  serving  to  keep  apprehension  alive,  and  rather  in- 
deed, to  increase  it,  the  Yestry,  at  length,  determined 
to  remove  the  old  roof  and  build  a  new  one.     In  the 
progress  of  this  work  it  was  found,  that  the  whole  edi- 
fice was  so  slight  and  unsubstantial,  that  it  Avould  be 
needless  to  repair  it  and  unsafe  to  leave  it.     The  final 
conclusion,  therefore,  of  the  Corporation  was,  to  pull  it 
down  and  raise  a  third  one  on  the  spot,  of  a  more  mass- 
ive and  enduring  character.     Various  plans  were  pro- 
posed and  estimates  made,  with  no  intention  originally 
of  erecting  a  grand  and  costly  edifice,  but  the  concep- 
tions of  the  projector  and  architect*  being  gradually 
enlarged,  and  the  objections  of  the  Building  Commit- 
tee and  the  Vestry  reluctantly  indeed,  but  constantly 
giving  way,  it  resulted  in  the  construction  of  a  magni- 
ficent temple,  which  in  this  country  has  no  equal,  and 
which,  since  the  Reformation  at  least,  has  been  seldom, 
if  ever,  surpassed  in  any  other. 

The  old  church  was  pulled  down  in  the  spring  and 
summer  of  1839.  The  new  one  was  begun  in  the  au- 
tumn of  the  same  year,  and  it  was  not  completed  and 
made  ready  for  consecration  until  the  21st  of  May, 

1846.t 

The  consecration  of  Trinity  Church  awakened  a 
more  general  curiosity,  and  excited  a  deeper  interest 


*  Mr.  Richard  Upjohn. 

■\  For  the  report  ot  the  Building  Committee,  see  Appendix  I. 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW- YORK.  317 

than  any  thing  of  the  kind  I  have  ever  known.  In 
some,  indeed,  whose  families  had  been  for  generations 
connected  with  it,  and  some  who  had  been  connected 
with  it  for  generations  themselves,  but  who  still  surviv- 
ing, remained  as  scattered  monuments  of  the  past,  this 
interest  was  intense.  I  have  already  noticed  the  pres- 
ence on  the  occasion  of  one  of  the  former  clerks  of  the 
Parish,  the  late  Mr.  John  P.  Groshon,  who  attended 
the  opening  of  St.  Paul's,  in  1766.  And  I  have  since 
learned,  that  Mrs.  Ann  Livingston,  a  family  connection 
of  Dr.  John  Charlton,  was  also  present  at  the  conse- 
cration of  this  third  edifice,  who  had  attended  the  con- 
secration of  the  second,  and  who  had  been  baptized  in 
the  first. 

To  indulge  in  any  reasonable  degree  this  wide-spread 
curiosity,  and  to  gratify  the  deeper  interest  of  those 
who  were  attached  to  the  Parish,  was  one  of  the  most 
difficult  tasks  that  could  well  be  imagined.  The  com- 
mittee who  were  charged  with  the  business,  took  un- 
wearied pains  to  do  so,  with  reference  to  the  capacity 
of  the  building  and  the  order  and  decorum  becoming 
the  solemnity  of  the  occasion.  In  this  last  point  they 
succeeded  with  universal  admiration,  but  in  the  firm 
and  rigid  observance  of  the  rules  they  had  laid  down  in 
order  to  secure  it,  they  gave  deep  and  lasting  offence, 
to  many,  at  least,  who  were  thus  necessarily  excluded. 

As  it  may  be  interesting,  perhaps,  to  those  who  fol- 
low us  to  be  furnished  with  the  details  in  regard  to  the 
order  of  the  procession,  and  the  names  of  the  persons 
who  took  a  part  in  the  service,  they  will  be  found  in 
the  Appendix.* 

*  Appendix  K. 


318  HISTORY    OF 

I  have  thus  brought  to  a  close  the  history  of  the 
Parish  in  which,  with  a  brief  exception,  I  commenced 
my  professional  life,  and  in  which,  with  God's  permis- 
sion and  blessing,  I  hope  to  end  it.  The  interest  which 
I  feel  in  all  that  concerns  its  honour,  its  welfare,  and 
peace,  may  readily  be  conceived.  It  is  very  possible, 
therefore,  that  in  the  intensity  of  this  feeling,  I  may 
have  given  an  undue  prominence  to  things  which  in 
themselves  were  comparatively  unimportant,  and  that 
I  have  swelled  a  work  into  a  volume,  which  might  have 
been  very  well  compressed,  as  it  had  been  before  for  a 
hundred  and  fifty  years,  within  a  very  few  pages.  It 
may  all  be  true,  but  with  the  most  careful  exercise  of 
the  faculties  which  God  has  given  me,  I  could  make 
it  nothing  else  than  it  is.  Of  one  thing,  however,  I  am 
entirely  persuaded,  that  this  history  of  Trinity  Church 
will  be  read  by  no  one,  however  prejudiced  against  it, 
but  of  a  fair  and  honest  mind,  who  will  not  lay  it  down 
with  some  change  in  his  opinions,  and  that  it  will  height- 
en the  attachment  and  reverence  for  this  ancient  and 
munificent  Corporation,  of  all  those  who  have  been 
accustomed  to  respect  it. 


The  clergy  connected  with  the  Parish  at  the  present 
The  Rev.  Wm.  Berrian,  D.  D., 


time,  are 


Rector. 

Jonathan  M.  Wainwright,  D.  D.,        Edward  Y.  Higbee,  D.  D., 
Martin  P.  Parks, 

Assistant  Ministers. 

Cornelius  R.  Duffie,  Francis  I.  Clerc, 

Deacons. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  319 

CHURCH  WARDENS  AND  VESTRYMEN. 
Adam  Tredwell,  Edward  W.  Laigiit, 

Church  Wardens. 
Teunis  Quick,  William  Moore, 

Peter  A.  Mesier,  William  H.  Hobart, 

Anthony  L.  Underhill,  Henry  Youngs, 

William  Johnson,  Alexander  L.  McDonald, 

Philip  Hone,  Sl.  G.  Raymond, 

William  E.  Dunscomb,  Clerk,     Gulian  C.  Verplanck, 
William H.  B.Ajaso^,Comptroller,  Philip  Henry, 
Robert  Hyslop,  John  I.  Morgan, 

Henry  Cotheal,  David  B.  Ogden, 

Thomas  L.  Clark,  Anthony  J.  Bleecker, 

Vestrymen. 

For  a  full  list  of  the  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  of 
Trinity  Church,  from  its  foundation  to  the  present 
time,  see  Appendix,  L. 

And  for  a  detailed  account  of  its  gifts  and  grants, 
see  Appendix,  M. 


APPENDIX. 


A. 

SUBSCRIPTIONS  TOWARDS  BUILDING  THE  STEEPLE. 

We,  whose  names  are  hereunder  written,  doe  freely  severally  give  the 
following  respective  sums  towards  the  finishing  the  Steeple  of  Trinity 
Church,  in  New-  York, ,  in  America.  Witness  our  hands,  this  first 
day  of  May,  Anno  Domini  1711. 


£ 

s.    d. 

£    s. 

His     Excell.     Robert 

Samuel  Bayard 

2  15 

Hunter,  Esq. 

10 

Robt.  Watts 

1     7     ( 

Coll.  Richd.  Ingoldesby 

5 

10 

Bart  Lefourt 

1   10 

John  Barberie 

1 

10 

Elias  Jamain 

3 

Capt.  Robert  Paston 

5 

Lawrence  Reade 

4 

Cha.    Pinkethman    5, 

John  Cruger 

1     1 

but  £3  rec'd, 

3 

Johanna  Markham 

1   10 

Will  Vesey 

5 

Capt.  Nich.  Smith 

5 

John  Read 

3 

Saml.  Staats 

1     7     < 

Henry  Beekman 

1 

10 

Benja.  Fanevil 

1     2 

John  Jekyll 

3 

4 

Nathaniel  Freu 

5 

Steph.  DeLancy 

3 

Elias  Boudinot 

11 

John  Merit 

5     6 

Charles  Tellis 

11 

Gualtherus  DuBois 

1 

10 

Cazalet 

5 

Jno.  Bown 

1 

10 

Nath.  Milner 

1     2 

Tho.  Farmar 

1 

2 

Coll.  Gorkin 

5 

Henry  Lane 

1 

10 

Danl.  Cromline 

1   10 

G.  Turbervil 

5     6 

Lewis  Caree 

11 

Simeon  Soumaine 

1 

Wm.  Sharpas 

1  10 

Wm.  Glencross 

1 

10 

Robt.  Nisbet 

1 

Jno.  Maclenan 

1 

Wm.  Smith 

2     5 

Jno.  Cholwell 

1 

7     6 

Barent  Rynders 

1 

Walter  Thouy 

1 

2     6 

John  Auboyneau 

11 

322 


HISTORY    OF 


Abraham  Joneau 
James  Neau 
Peter  Morine 
John  Finch 
Tho.  Walbank 
Fra.  Harison 
George  Clarke 
Barth.  LeRoux 
Robert  Dark  ins 
Jacob  Van  Cortland 
And.  Fresneau 
Joh'es  Cuyler 
Jos.  Aspinwall 
Jno.  Struckey 
Henry  Cuyler 
Wm.  Ball 
Peter  Soumaine 
Henry  Swift 
Steph.  Thomas 
Henry  Wileman 
Geo.  Norton 
Rich.  Harris 
Robert  Elliston 
Elias  Pelletreau 
Tho.  Davenport 
Cha.   Cromeline 
Robert  Crannell 

Pintard 
Wm.  Bradford 
Gabl.  Ludlow 
Christopher  Rouxley 
John  Sloss 
Tho.  Tarpy 
Jno.  Williams 
Wm.  Walton 
Garret  Van  Laer 
Wm.  White 


£    s. 
11 
1 
1  10 


d. 


2 

4 

12 


2 

1G 


16 

5 

10 


10 


12 
1     6 

1  2 
6 

2  10 
18 
11 

3 

10 

11 

5 

1  10 

6 

11 


John  Carbile 
Saml.  Clowes 
Tho.  Jones 
7.  cob  Berlin 
Allen  Jarrat 
Thomas  Rudden 
Gideon  Mossman 
Cornelius  Clopper 
Oliver  Schuyler 
Rutger  Waldron 
Peter  Brested 
Saml.  Raynor 
Mrs.  Coddington 
Philip  Wilkinson 
Capt.  Garlington 
Benja.  Wynkoop 
Madm.  Wilson 
Christopher  Ball 
Josiah  Ogden 
Ml.  Bartow 
John  Walter 
John  Gordon 
Patrick  McKnight 
Edward  Foy 
Wm.  Jones 
Wm.  Hawkins 
Lancaster  Symes 
Wm.  Pickering 
John  Cox 
David  Tynes 
John  Roland 
Mich.  Basset 
Alexand.  Steward 
Abraham  Kettletas 
Col.  Rednap 
Jno.  Wynderse 
Gilbert  Livingston 


£    s. 
5 

1  10 

2 

1 

1 
11 
16 
11 


d. 
6 


16   10 
15 


11 
18 
15 
11 
15 
10 


1   10 
10 

1  10 

2  15 
11 

1  2 
3 

2 
11 
12 
11 
11 
6 
11 

2  5 
1     2 

5 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK. 


323 


£ 

s.    d. 

£ 

s.    d. 

Philip  Schuyler 

6 

John  Lawience 

1 

Robt.  Livingston  Jun. 

1 

John  Waldron 

11 

Cornelius  Van  Brunt 

11 

John  De  Peyster 

1 

Lewis  Morris 

1 

Jeremiah  Caluit 

1 

7     6 

Henry  Van  Bael 

11 

William  Provoost 

10 

John  Troup 

11 

Octave  Coenaets 

17 

John  Oatman 

1 

Benj.  D'Harriot 

1 

10 

Mrs.  Shepherd 

7 

Nath'l.  Lynn 

15 

David  Lyell 

1 

M.  Coden 

12 

John  Cooper 

11 

Peter  Negel 

12 

Leonard  Namock 

1 

John  Shorter 

5     6 

Mrs.  Hughes 

5     6 

Tobias  Stoutenburg 

1 

2 

Mrs.  Lc  vreer 

8 

John  Stevens 

1 

Mrs.  Hamilton 

2 

15 

Rich.  Wiltshire 

10 

Danl.  Philipse 

1 

Henry  Prince 

1 

2 

Gilbert  Ash 

1 

2 

Jacob  Regnier 

3 

James  Norwood 

1 

2 

Rip  Van  Dam 

1 

2 

Henry  Tucker 

1 

2 

Abraham  Wendall 

1 

2 

John  Vincent 

0 

5     6 

Thomas  Braine 

1 

6 

Thos.  Lea 

1 

M.  Birchfield 

5 

Thomas  Kearney 

2 

15 

Jno.  Tatham 

1 

6     6 

Jeremiah  Pemiston 

10 

Rowland  Dee 

2 

Anthony  White 

9 

John  Moore 

1 

2 

Peter  Van  Dyck 

7     G 

Law  Smith 

1 

Thomas  HaUiday 

15 

Benjamin  Bill 

11 

Nathanl.  Marston 

1 

James  Harpendink 

1 

2 

Mrs.  Leaver 

10 

Andrew  Strukey 

11 

Jno.  Marshall 

3 

Thomas  Roberts 

1 

10 

Ralph  Thurman 

11 

John  Dongan 

1 

7     3 

Sam'l  Sands 

5     6 

Peter  Famonier 

1 

2 

Anna  Maria  Burck 

12 

Paul  Droilliot 

11     6 

Robt.  Drummond 

1 

6 

Wm.  Davis 

1 

7     6 

William  Barkly 

1 

Benj.  Hildreth 

11 

Thomas  Dawson 

11 

Cornelius  Sebering 

1 

Thomas  Pope 

5 

Thos.  Fell 

11 

James  Elenes 

11 

Thos.  Child 

1 

2 

Isaac  Anderson 

11 

Thos.  Adams 

11 

324 


HISTORY    OF 


Nich.  Tueden 
John  King 
Dirck  Benson 
Jacob  Brat 
Robt.  L  Hooper 
Augt.  Graham 
John  Corbet 
James  Harding 
Mart  Clock 
Nicho.  Rosevelt 
Wm.  Clertse 
Hend.  Vanderheul 
John  Reynolds 
Jos.  Spencer 
Ml.  Parker 
Jos.  Forous 
Jno.  Hamilton 
Alexander  Junes 
Abra.  Schallinger 
Jacob  Morne 
Wm.  Sell 
Ml.  Carrell 
Albert  Clock 
Jos.  Bevey 
Ml.  Tudor 
Alexander  Moore 
Jno.  Webb 
David  Le  Telier 
Hend  Van  Renselaer 
Daniel  Schrogham 


s.    d. 

2 
18 
11 

6 
J 
11 
11 
1  2 
11 
10 

5 
11 
11 
11 


8     3 
10 

4 
11 


11 

6 

11 

5 

11 

11 

11 

6 

5 

16 

11 


Robert  Rivers 
Jno.  Schuyler 
Alexander  Harper 
Thos.  Statham 
Jos.  Wickham 
Thos.  Button 
Jno.  Graham 
Jos.  Robinson 
Jno.  Sprat 
Thos.  Laurence 
Ml.  Taylor 
Dr.  Jno.  Johnston 
Obadiah  Hunt 
John  Theobalds 
Mr.  Nicoll 
Ml.  Hett 
Mr.  Whitney 
Adolphe  Philipse 
Peter  Barberie 
Nicholas  Everts 
Jno.  Halls 
Ml.  Mead 
Saml.  Richardson 
Elias  Clarke 
Abraham  Brock 
May  Bickley 
John  Chabot 
Mary  Smith 
Collo.  Willet 


16 
16 

5 

2 

5 

2 

2 

11 

11 

11 

6 

5 

11 

5 
11 

2 
2 
11 
11 
11 
11 
10 
11 
18 
16 
5 
10 


d. 
0 
6 


New- York,  October  30th,  1711. 


£312  13     7 


Then  rec'd  of  Mr.  Wm.  Vesey,  the  several  sums  annexed  to 
the  several  names  above  written,  amounting  to  the  sum  of  three  hun- 
dred and  twelve  pounds,  thirteen  shillings  and  seven  pence,  by  us. 

David  Jamison 
John  Crooke. 


C.  Wardens. 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK. 


325 


THE  JEWS'  CONTRIBUTIONS. 

£    s.    d. 

£    s.    d. 

Lewis  Gomez                 1     2               Jacob  Franks 

1 

Abm.  D'Laiena              1                     Moses  Michael 

8     3 

Rodrigo  Pacheco            1 

Moses  Levy                        11 

£5  12     3 

Mordecai  Nathan               11 

New- York,  Oct.  30,  1711. 

Then  rec'd  of  Mr.  William  Vesey  the  several  sums  annext  to 
the  several  names  above  written,  amounting  to  the  sum  of  Five  pounds 
twelve  shillings  and  three  pence. 

David  Jamison. 
Jno.  Ckooke, 

Church  Wardens. 


326 


HISTORY    OF 


B. 


SEXTONS    OF   TRINITY  CHURCH. 


Appointed. 
Nicholas  Fielding  1697 

William  Welch  1698 

James  Welch  (his  son)        1705 
Wm.  Dobbs  1709 

Thomas  Craven  1716 

James  Welsh  1721 

John    Welsh    (brother    of 

James)  1726 

Wm.  Cook,  Assistant  Sex- 
ton to  John  Welsh  1744 
Wm.  Cooke  (Sexton) 


Appointed, 
Thomas  Whaley  Ass't.,  died 

about  1780 

Thomas  Collister  (Ass't.)  1788 
Thomas  Collister  (Sexton)  1790 
Mr.  Coutant  1816 

Edward  CoateJs  1821 

Thomas  Dugan  1834 

David  Lyon  1846 

Wm.  Maslin  (Ass't.  Sexton 

and  Chimer)  1846 


SEXTONS  OF  ST.  GEORGE'S  CHAPEL. 


Appointed. 
Thomas  Whaley  (Sexton) 
Thomas  Collister,  Jr.  1790 

John  Needham  1793 


William  Needham 
John  Purely 


Appointed. 
1801 


SEXTONS  OF  ST.  PAUL'S  CHAPEL 

Appointed. 


David  Mitchell  (at  a   salary 

of  £10  per  annum)  1766 

Viner  Mitchell 

Mr.  Thomas  1781 

William  Brown  1788 


Appointed 

Richard  Slack  1817 

John  Stevens  (Asst.  Sexton)l840 
John  Stevens  (Sexton)  1843 

David  Lyon  1843 

James  Martin  1846 


SEXTONS  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHAPEL. 


Richard  Wenman 
Albert  Wunnenburgh 


Appointed. 

1807 


Thomas  Dugan 
John  Morison 


Appointed. 
1834 
1834 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK. 


327 


c. 


CLERKS  IN  TRINITY  CHURCH 

William  Huddlestone  1697         Mr.  Hildreth 

Thomas  Huddlestone  1723 

William  Tuckey 

Mr.  Eldridgc    (to    officiate 

jointly  at  the  Church  and 

Chapel)  1753 

Mr.  Parks  1753 

John  Wood  1790 


Mr.   Sibley  (as  joint  Clerk 

with  Mr.  Hildreth) 
John  P.  Groshon  1804 

"  "  resigned  1809 

Edward  Coates 

Samuel  Earle  1822 

Mr.  Franklin 


CLERKS  IN  ST.  GEORGE'S  CHAPEL. 

Mr.  Eldridge                         1753  William  Roach 

Mr.  Parks                               1753  George  Young 

Mr.  Sibley  (at  a   salary  of  Thomas  Wilson 

£30  per  ann.)  Mr.  Webb 

Mr.  Man                   [Clerk;  Jacob  Leonard 
Thomas  Warren,  Assistant 

CLERKS  IN  ST.  PAUL'S  CHAPEL. 

Benjamin  Englis  (at  a  sala-  Robert  Spears 

ry  of  £40  per  annum)       1766  James  Weight 

Peter  McLean  John  Phebus 
John  Wood                            1786 
Mr.  Jarvis                               1790 
Gilbert  Ritter                        1813 


James  O.  Smith 
George  Newcombe 
James  A.  Sparks 


CLERKS  IN  ST.  JOHN'S  CHAPEL. 


James  L.  Bell 
Uri  K.  Hill 
John  I.  Cregier 


1809 
1812 


Mr.  Ditchett 
John  Earle 
Mr.  Maynard 


1783 

1787 
1789 

1801 


1816 

1835 
1839 

1843 


328  HISTORY    OF 


E. 

The  Reverend  Mr.  Vesey  acquainted  the  Vestry  that  he  had  obtained 
his  Majesty's  Gracious  Letter  to  his  Excellency  Coll.  Hunter,  to  cause 
the  Justices  of  the  Peace  and  Vestrymen  of  the  City  of  New-York,  to 
issue  their  warrant  to  the  Church  Wardens  of  the  City  to  pay  his  salary, 
a  copy  of  which  was  read  in  the  words  following  : 

To  our  trusty  and  well  beloved  Robert  Hunter.  Esq.,  our  Capt.  Generall 
and  Govourner -in-Chief  of  our  Province  of  New-York,  in  America, 
and  in  his  absence,  to  the  Commander-in-Chief  or  io  the  President 
of  our  Council!  of  our  said  Province  for  the  time  being  : 

(George  ft. 

Trusty  and  Avell  beloved,  we  greet  you  well.  Whereas  our  truly 
and  well  beloved  William  Vesey,  Rector  of  Trinity  Church,  in  that 
our  Province  of  New-York,  hath  by  his  petition  humbly  presented  unto 
us,  that  being  obliged  about  a  year  ago  to  come  to  this  our  Kingdom 
of  Great  Britain  in  order  to  settle  the  affairs  of  his  Church,  and  having 
by  a  long  sickness  and  other  incidents  been  prevented  from  returning 
so  soon  as  he  intended,  the  Justices  of  the  Peace  and  Vestrymen  of  our 
said  City  of  New-York  have  refused  to  direct  their  warrants  to  the 
Church  Wardens,  to  issue  the  moneys  levied  and  paid  into  their  hands 
for  the  use  of  the  petitioner,  pursuant  to  two  acts  of  Assembly  of  our 
said  Province  made  for  that  purpose,  upon  a  pretence  of  his  not  offici- 
ating, and  leaving  his  cure  Avithout  liberty,  though  by  his  particular 
care  and  by  the  approbation  and  appointment  of  the  Right  Reverend 
Father  in  God,  John,  Bishop  of  London,  it  hath  been  duly  supply'd 
during  his  absence  :  and  praying  us  to  grant  him  our  Letter  to  you, 
enjoining  the  Justices  of  the  Peace  and  Vestrymen  of  New-York  afore- 
said, to  issue  their  warrants  to  the  Church  Wardens  of  our  said  City, 
to  pay  the  petitioner  such  part  of  his  salary  as  has  been  levied  and 
paid  into  the  hands  of  the  said  Church  Wardens,  and  that  his  settled 
salary  be  hereafter  levied  and  paid  into  the  hands  of  the  said  Church 
Wardens,  and  as  it  becomes  due  issued  by  order  of  the  Justices  of  the 
Peace  and  Vestrymen  of  our  said  City  for  the  maintenance  of  the  peti- 
tioner, according  to  the  purposes  of  the  two  aforementioned  acts  of 
Assembly.     We,  taking  the  premises  into  our  Royal  consideration, 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  329 

have  thought  fit  hereby  to  signify  our  will  and  pleasure  unto  you,  and 
accordingly  our  will  and  pleasure  is,  that  immediately  upon  receipt 
hereof,  you  give  directions  and  take  effectual  care  that  the  Justices  of 
the  Peace  and  Vestrymen  of  our  said  City  of  New- York  do  issue  their 
warrants  to  the  Church  Wardens  of  our  said  City,  for  paying  to  the 
petitioner  such  part  of  his  salary  as  has  been  levied  for  his  use  and 
paid  into  their  hands ;  and  that  his  settled  salary  be  hereafter  levied 
and  paid  into  the  hands  of  the  said  Church  Wardens,  and  as  it  becomes 
due  issued  by  order  of  the  Justices  of  the  Peace  and  Vestrymen  of  the 
said  City  for  the  maintenance  of  the  petitioner,  pursuant  to  the  two 
above  s'd  Acts,  and  for  so  doing  this  shall  be  your  warrant.  And  so 
we  bid  you  farewell.  Given  at  our  Court  at  St.  James's  the  Nine- 
teenth day  of  August,  1715,  in  the  Second  Year  of  our  Reign. 

By  his  Majesty's  Command, 

James  Stanhope. 
This  Ave  affirm  to  be  a  true  copy  taken  from 
and  compared  with  the  original,  By  us. 

Caleb  Heathcote, 

Robert  Wa, 

Will  Anderson. 
The  Reverend  Mr.  Vesey,  at  the  request  of  this  Board,  having 
communicated  a  copy  of  his  Majesty's  letter  to  his  Excellency  our 
Governour,  for  causing  his  salary  to  be  issued  by  the  Justices  of  the 
Peace  and  Vestrymen  of  this  City  of  New- York,  informed  this  Board 
he  had  delivered  the  same  to  his  Excellency  the  7th  of  November  last, 
and  the  same  being  read, 

It  was  thereupon  Ordered,  That  one  of  the  Church  Wardens,  with 
any  three  of  the  Vestrymen  of  Trinity  Church,  doe  wait  on  the  Mayor, 
Recorder,  and  Justices  of  the  Peace,  and  Vestrymen  of  this  said  City,  to 
know  if  his  Excellency  hath  been  pleased  to  communicate  unto  them 
His  Majesty's  Royall  command  to  him  signified  by  the  said  Letter,  or 
given  any  directions  to  them  for  Issueing  out  their  warrants,  directed 
to  the  Church  Wardens  of  the  said  City  for  the  payment  of  the  Rector's 
Mr.  Vesey's  salary,  pursuant  to  two  Acts  of  the  General  Assembly  of 
this  Province,  the  one  entitled  an  Act  for  settling  a  Ministry  and  rais- 
ing a  maintenance  for  them  in  the  City  of  New- York,  &c,  and  also 
one  other  entitled  an  Act  for  the  better  establishment  of  the  mainten- 
ance for  the  Minister  of  the  City  of  New- York,  and  according  to  his 

21 


330  HISTORY    OF 

said  Majesty's  commands  ;  and  that  whether  any  such  warrants  have 
been  by  them  issued,  and  if  no  such  warrants  have  been  issued,  that 
they  bee  desired  to  take  effectual  care  to  Issue  the  same,  so  as  the 
moneys  levyed  for  the  use  of  the  said  Rector  by  virtue  of  the  said  Acts 
and  according  to  an  order  made  at  a  Meeting  of  the  said  Justices  of 
the  Peace  and  Vestrymen  of  this  said  City  the  fourth  of  February  last, 
be  to  him  the  said  Rector  Speedily  paid  as  the  Law  directs  :  and  that, 
likewise,  Mr.  William  Sharpas,  the  Clerk  of  the  Vestry  of  the  said 
City,  be  desired  to  prepare  warrants,  and  to  communicate  the  Request 
of  this  Board  at  the  next  Meeting  of  the  said  Justices  of  the  Peace  and 
Vestrymen  of  the  said  City. 

The  Humble  Representation  of  the  Rector,  Church  Wardens,  and 
Vestrymen  of  Trinity  Church,  in  the  City  of  New- York  in  America,  to 
his  Excellency  Robert  Hunter,  Esq.,  Capt.  General  and  Governour  of 
the  Provinces  of  New- York,  &c,  was  presented  to  the  Board  and  read 
and  signed  by  all  present,  and  ordered  to  be  entered,  and  is  as  follows. 
To  his  Excellency  Robert  Hunter,  Esq.,  Capt.  Generall  4*  Governour 

of  the  Provinces  of  New-  York,  6fc. 
The  humble  Representation  of  the  Rector,  Church  Wardens,  and  Ves- 
trymen of  Trinity  Church,  in  the  city  of  New-York,  in  America. 
May  it  please  your  Excellency. 

We  the  Rector,  Church  Wardens,  and  Vestrymen  of  Trinity  Church, 
in  the  city  of  New- York,  beg  leave,  humbly  to  represent  to  your  Ex- 
cellency, that  about  a  year  and  a  half  ago  our  Reverend  Rector,  Mr. 
Wm.  Vesey,  with  the  consent  of  the  then  Church  Wardens,  and  major 
part  of  the  Vestry  of  the  said  Trinity  Church,  did  undertake  a  voyage 
to  Great  Britain,  to  wait  on  our  Diocessan,  the  Rt.  Reverend  Father 
in  God,  John,  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  about  the  affairs  of  our  Churchr 
and  being,  by  a  long  sickness  and  other  incidents,  detained  there  lon- 
ger than  he  intended,  the  Justices  of  the  Peace  and  Vestrymen  of  this 
city,  contrary  to  several  acts  of  Assembly,  that  have  long  since  obtain- 
ed the  Royal  assent,  did  put  a  stop  to  the  payment  of  his  salary  settled 
and  directed  to  be  paid  by  those  acts,  on  pretence  of  his  not  officiating 
and  leaving  his  Cure  without  liberty,  as  appears  by  their  own  minutes 
of  the  fourth  of  February  last,  although  by  his  own  particular  care,  and 
the  appointment  of  his  Rt.  Reverend  Diocesan,  our  Church  has  been 
duly  and  regularly  supplied  during  all  his  absence,  two  Sundays  only 
excepted,  in  the  extremity  of  winter.     By  reason  of  which  hardships 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  331 

our  Rector  was  reduced  to  great  difficulties,  and  being  then  in  Eng- 
land, was  constrained  to  implore  his  Majesty's  most  gracious  letter  to 
your  Excellency,  to  enjoin  the  said  Justices  and  Vestrymen  to  issue 
out  their  warrants  to  the  Church  Wardens  of  the  said  city,  to  pay  him 
his  salary,  according  to  the  direction  of  the  two  several  acts  of  Assem- 
bly, aforesaid.  All  which  matters  and  suggestions  being  certified  to 
his  Majesty  by  the  Bishop  of  London,  and  appearing  from  the  minutes 
of  the  Justices  and  Vestry  aforesaid,  which  by  them  were  transmitted 
to  his  Lordship  ;  His  Majesty  was  graciously  pleased  to  grant  his 
Royal  letter  to  your  Excellency,  dated  at  St.  James's  the  19th  day  of 
August  last,  thereby  signifying  his  will  and  pleasure  that  your  Excel- 
lency should  give  directions  and  take  effectual  care,  that  the  Justices 
of  the  Peace  and  Vestrymen  of  the  said  city  should  issue  out  their  war- 
rants for  paying  our  Rector  his  salary  then  due,  and  hereafter  as  it 
should  become  due,  pursuant  to  the  two  aforesaid  acts,  which  said  let- 
ter (as  we  are  informed  by  Mr.  Vesey)  was  delivered  to  your  Excellen- 
cy the  seventh  of  November  last. 

We  beg  leave  further  to  represent  to  your  Excellency,  that  although 
it  appears  your  Excellency  was  pleased  on  the  eighth  of  November, 
aforesaid,  to  direct  your  letter  and  send  the  king's  commands  to  the 
said  Justices  and  Vestrymen  pursuant  to  his  Majesty's  Royal  will  and 
pleasure,  yet  no  meeting  of  the  said  Justices  and  Vestrymen  was  had 
thereon  till  the  16th  of  this  instant,  December,  the  minutes  of  which 
meeting,  with  their  former  proceedings  in  this  affair  we  have  hereunto 
annexed,  and  humbly  offer  to  your  Excellency's  consideration  some  ob- 
servations on  those  proceedings. 

That  by  the  minutes  of  the  Justices'  and  Vestry  on  the  4th  of  Fe- 
bruary last,  they  assumed  power  to  themselves  to  stop  our  Rector's 
salary  at  what  time  soever  he  shall  not  personally  officiate  in  his  cure, 
though  he  take3  care  to  have  it  duly  supplied  by  others  lawfully  qua- 
lified, whereby  one  quarter's  salary  of  last  year  and  three  quarter's 
salary  of  this  are  now  stopped,  which  is  a  power,  we  cannot  appre- 
hend, that  they  are  in  any  wise  vested  with  by  the  aforesaid  Acts  of 
Assembly,  which,  in  this  case,  are  the  only  authority  by  which  they 
should  or  can  act,  and  those  Acts,  as  to  Mr.  Vesey's  salary,  are  man- 
datory and  positive,  and  not  subjected  to  their  discretion  to  be  dispens- 
ed with,  and  they,  themselves,  seem  to  be  so  far  of  that  opinion,  that 
when  they  stopt  the  payment  of  the  salary  of  our  Rector,  the  Incum- 
bent, and  when  being  absent  he  officiated  by  others,  at  the  same  time 


332  HISTORY   OF 

they  ordered  the  raising  of  the  annual  salary  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
pounds  for  the  ensuing  year,  pursuant  to  the  directions  of  those  two 
Acts  of  General  Assembly,  which  they  could  not  have  done  by  the  said 
Acts  if  Mr.  Vesey's  not  officiating  personally  had  determined  that  sa- 
lary, which  moneys  have  been  levied  on  his  Majesty's  subjects  here  for 
that  use,  and  collected  and  paid  into  the  hands  of  the  Church  Wardens 
of  this  city,  and  cannot  by  them  be  applied  to  any  other  purpose  by  the 
express  words  of  the  Acts,  and  therefore,  we  doubt  not  but  your  Ex- 
cellency will  be  of  opinion,  that  their  detaining  from  Mr.  Vesey  the 
money  levied  by  virtue  of  the  said  Acts,  is  in  no  wise  warranted  by 
law,  and  consequently  is  a  great  injury  and  an  oppression. 

Their  opinion  of  the  16th  of  December,  is  of  so  extraordinary  a  na- 
ture, that  we  cannot  but  observe  to  your  Excellency,  that  the  sugges- 
tions recited  in  his  Majesty's  letter  are  contained  in  their  own  minutes 
of  the  4th  of  February  last,  which  is  the  foundation  of  Mr.  Vesey's 
complaint  and  of  his  Majesty's  letter  thereupon  granted,  and  which  mi- 
nutes the  Justices'  and  Vestry  sent  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London, 
who  certified  the  same,  as  also  every  other  matter  suggested  by  that 
petition  to  his  Majesty  before  the  granting  of  that  letter.  And  all 
which  suggestions  (excepting  the  affairs  of  the  Church  that  called  Mr. 
Vesey  to  Great  Britain)  we  persuade  ourselves  they  cannot  pretend 
ignorance  of,  they  being  to  every  body,  and  particularly  to  themselves, 
very  notorious.  And  as  for  those  Ministers  that  have  duly  officiated 
by  Mr.  Vesey's  care  and  the  Bishop  of  London's  appointment,  we  as- 
sure your  Excellency  they  have  had  all  reasonable  satisfaction,  (ex- 
cepting one)  who  officiated  one  or  two  Sunday's,  and  he  shall  be  fully 
satisfied  in  due  time.  However,  this  last  opinion  of  their's  serves  to 
inform  your  Excellency  that  they  have  relinquished  their  first  preten- 
ces for  stopping  the  payment  of  our  Minister's  salary,  entered  in  their 
minutes  of  the  4th  of  February,  and  have  shifted  them  into  an  examina- 
tion of  the  truth  of  Mr.  Vesey's  suggestions  on  which  the  King's  letter 
was  granted,  though  all  within  their  own  knowledge  (except  the  affairs 
of  our  Church  which  called  Mr.  Vesey  to  wait  on  our  Diocesan)  so 
*hat  upon  other  reasons  (of  equal  weight)  we  may  be  justly  apprehen- 
sive, they  may  put  a  stop  to  the  payment  of  any  salary  for  the  future. 
By  all  which  we  hope  it  sufficiently  appears  to  your  Excellency,  that 
the  proceedings  of  that  Board  in  this  affair  are  groundless  and  frivo- 
ous.     Nor  is  their  request  to  our  Rector,  Mr.  Vesey,  less  unreasonable 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK. 


333 


to  lay  before  their  Board  the  affairs  of  the  Church  that  called  him  home, 
the  consequence  of  which,  would  be  the  submitting  her  affairs  to  the 
Judgment  of  persons  that  are  not  of  her  communion. 

And  it  would  be  as  unjust  in  Mr.  Vesey  or  us,  to  divulge  those  affairs 
with  which  we  are  intrusted,  to  such  persons,  as  it  is  unreasonable  and 
unwarrantable  in  them  to  desire  it.  Though  it  has  appeared  to  all  that 
our  Rector  has  obtained  the  favour  of  an  Assistant,  with  an  annual  allow- 
ance  of  £50  from  the  venerable  Society,  and  what  other  affairs  of  the 
Church  he  went  about,  he  has  given  a  satisfactory  account  of  to  his 
Diocesan,  ihe  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  who  under  our  Dread  Sovereign 
King  George,  is  the  only  proper  judge  of  them  in  these  cases,  as  we 
humbly  conceive,  and  it  will  be  a  mighty  prejudice  to  the  interest  of 
our  Church  should  he  by  any  means  make  those  affairs  publick. 

Had  his  Majesty  commanded  any  thing  extraordinary  or  contrary  to 
the  laws  of  this  Province,  the  truth  of  suggestions  might  then  perhaps' 
with  some  colour  of  reason,  have  been  enquired  into,  least  his  Majesty, 
(who  in  law  is  said  to  doe  no  wrong,)  might  have  been  deceived.  But 
when  a  Prince  only  commands  the  law  to  be  put  in  execution  there  is  no 
occasion  for  his  assigning  any  reason  for  the  same,  the  law  itself  doing 
it,  and  the  neglect  thereof  appearing  (as  in  this  case)  by  the  minutes 
of  the  Board,  with  their  reasons  for  such,  their  neglect  and  refusal,  we 
conceive  a  ready  obedience  to  the  Royal  commands  is  indisputably 
due. 

We  will  will  not  take  upon  us  to  determine  what  power  those  gen- 
tlemen  have  to  make  rules  and  orders  as  a  Board,  but  we  humbly  con- 
ceive  such  rules  and  orders  ought  to  be  for  the  due  execution  of  those 
Acts  of  Assembly  and  not  otherwise,  so  that  those  proceedings  of  that 
Board,  in  our  humble  opinion,  arc  assuming  a  power  (by  their  order 
only)  to  dispense  with  two  Acts  of  Assembly  at  once,  by  which  means  the 
maintenance  of  our  Rector,  established  by  law,  becomes  precarious, 
and  at  the  will  of  the  Justices  and  Vestrymen  of  the  city  of  New-York, 
who  at  present  (two  or  three  only  excepted)  are  not  of  the  Communion 
of  the  Church  of  England,  and  (we  arc  concerned  that  we  arc  obliged 
to  say)  over  whom,  neither  our  laws  that  have  established  our  Rector's 
salary,  nor  his  Majesty's  commands  to  put  those  laws  in  Execution, 
signified  by  your  Excellency  to  them,  have  yet  had  any  effectual  in- 
fluence, and  from  communicating  the  affairs  of  our  Church  to  persons 


334  HISTORY    OF 

thus  disposed,  what  good  effect  may  be  expected,  we  are  not  able  to 
conceive. 

We  beg  your  Excellency's  patience,  while  we  express  our  most 
grateful  sense  of  his  Majesty's  gracious  and  paternal  care  of  the 
Church  of  England,  as  by  Law  Established  in  his  frequent  Declara- 
tions from  his  Throne,  and  particularly  in  sending  one  of  his  first  com* 
mands  into  this  Province  for  the  due  execution  of  those  laws  that  have 
been  made  for  her  support ;  and  we  are  truly  sensible  of  your  Excel- 
lency's early  diligence  in  communicating  those  commands  to  such 
as  are  under  your  Excellency's  administration  and  are  entrusted  with 
the  execution  of  those  laws,  on  the  due  observance  whereof,  depends 
not  only  the  maintenance  of  our  Rector,  but  of  all  the  Ministers  of  the 
Church  of  England  established  by  law  within  this  Province. 

And  therefore,  we  doubt  not  but  your  Excellency  will  take  effectual 
care,  that  the  just  dues  and  maintenance  of  our  Minister  may  be  paid 
pursuant  to  the  laws  and  his  Majesty's  royal  commands,  and  that  the 
Established  Church  may  be  preserved  in  all  her  other  religious  rights 
and  privileges,  according  to  law. 

All  which  is  nevertheless,  humbly  submitted  to  your  Excellency's 
consideration,  by  may  it  please  your  Excellency,  your  most  dutiful  hum- 
ble servants.  Wm.  Vesey,  Rector. 

May  Bickly    j  Ch  w    d 
Tho.  Clakke.  (  Cn>  Wardens- 


Compared  and  examined  with 
the  original  by  us. 

Will  Vesey, 

May  Bickley, 

Tho.  Clarke. 
Jno.  Moore,  Junr..  Henry  Vernon, 

Jos.  Reade,  Jno.  Reade, 

Sim  Soumaine,  Will  Anderson, 

Alex.  Moore,  Nathnl.  Marston, 

And.  Loran,  Petr.  Barberie, 

Jos.  Wright,  Tho.  Noxon, 

Cornelius  Lodge,  Jno.  Walter, 

George  Cocke,  Robt.  Elliston, 

Rich.  Willet,  Vestrymen. 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  335 

City  of  New-York,  ss. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Justices  and  Vestry  Men  at  the  City  Hall  of 
the  said  City  on  Friday  the  fourth  day  of  February  Anno  Dom.  1714. 

John  Johnston.  John  Roosevelt. 

David  Jamison.  Oliver  Teller. 

Johan8.  Janson.  Cornelius  Clopper. 

Jacobus  Kip.  Cornelius  Lodge. 

John  Cruger.  Gerret  Keteltas. 

Jacobus  Bayard.  Stephen  Buckenhoven. 

Abraham  Wendell.  Jacob  Bennet. 

Isaac  Decker.  John  Meyer. 

Henry  Vanderspiegel.  Anthony  Rutgers. 

The  Reverend  Mr.  Talbott,  Mr.  Halliday,  and  the  Church  Wardens 
of  Trinity  Church,  having  signified  to  this  Board  that  they  had  some- 
thing to  offer  were  accordingly  called  in,  and  thereupon  they  Com- 
municated a  letter  from  the  Bishop  of  London  to  Mr.  Poyer,  and  a 
scheme  for  supplying  Trinity  Church  during  Mr.  Vesey's  absence, 
and  left  a  copy  of  the  said  letter  and  also  of  the  said  scheme,  which 
letter  was  in  the  following  words,  vizt. 

Sr.  Mr  Vesey  hath  desired  me  to  write  to  some  of  our  Brethren 
in  the  Neighbourhood  of  New  York  and  Intreat  them  to  take  care  of 
his  Church  during  his  necessary  absence  from  it.  I  do  accordingly 
recommend  the  supply  of  the  Church  of  New  York  to  yourself, 
Mr.  Talbot,  Mr.  Halliday,  Mr.  Thomas  Mr.  McKouse  &  Mr.  Bartow, 
and  I  do  desire  upon  the  communication  of  this  to  them  that  you 
would  agree  among  yourselves  how  to  supply  it  in  the  best  and  most 
convenient  manner.  You  will  acquaint  the  Church  Wardens  of 
Trinity  Church  and  of  the  City  of  New  York  wth  the  contents  hereof, 
that  this  affair  may  be  managed  without  any  disturbance.  I  pray 
God  to  bless  you  and  the  rest  of  our  Brethren  in  the  discharge  of 
your  office,  and  remain  Sr.  Your  most  assured  friend  and  Brother — 
John  London — Summerset  House  Septr.  6th.  1714.  To  the  Reverend 
Mr.  Poyer,  Rector  of  Jamaica  in  Long  Island,  in  the  province  of 
New  York. 

It  is  the  opinion  of  this  Board  that  the  Warrant  for  the  last  Quar- 
ters Salary  to  Mr.  Vesey  be  not  signed  by  the  Justices  till  further 
order,  by  reason  of  his  not  officiating  and  having  left  his  cure  without 


336  HISTORY    OF 

liberty,  and  Ordered  that  the  Board  write  a  letter  to  the  Bishop  of 
London  in  answer  to  the  foregoing  letter,  so  as  to  return  the  thanks  of 
this  Board  to  his  Lordship  for  his  care  of  the  Church  in  this  City. 

Order'd  that  all  warrants  for  the  future  be  signed  as  the  Law  directs 
and  not  otherwise,  pursuant  to  two  acts  of  the  Generall  Assembly  of 
this  Province,  one  entitled  an  act  for  the  setling  a  Ministry  and  raising 
a  maintenance  for  them  in  the  City  of  New  York,  and  also  one  other 
entitled  an  act  for  the  better  Establishment  of  the  Maintenance  for 
the  Minister  of  the  City  of  New  York.  It  is  hereby  ordered  that 
the  sum  of  four  hundred  Pounds  current  money  of  New  York  be 
assessed,  Levyed,  collected,  and  paid  by  the  freeholders  Residents 
and  Inhabitants  of  the  said  City  for  the  maintenance  of  the  Minister 
and  poor  of  the  said  City,  from  the  second  tuesday  in  January  last 
to  the  second  Monday  in  January  next  ensuing,  and  that  the  same  be 
paid  into  the  hands  of  the  Church  Wardens  of  the  said  City  on  or 
before  the  five  and  twentieth  day  of  March  next  ensuing,  the  date 
hereof,  and  for  the  more  effectual  raising  of  the  said  sum  of  four 
hundred  pounds  for  the  Minister  and  poor  aforesaid,  It  is  hereby 
ordered  that  Mr.  Vanderspiegel  and  Mr.  Roosevelt  for  the  Eastward, 
Mr.  Teller  and  Mr.  Clopper  for  the  Dockward,  Mr.  Rutgers  and 
Mr.  Myor  for  the  southward,  Mr.  Lodge  and  Mr.  Ketletas  for  the 
Westward,  Mr.  Bennet  and  Mr.  Buckenhoeven  for  the  Northward, 
and  Alderman  De  Riemer  for  the  outward,  doe  goe  through  the  respec- 
tive wards  aforesaid  and  make  an  estimate  of  the  estates  of  all  and 
every  the  freeholders  Residents  and  Inhabitants  of  this  City,  and  make 
Rolls  thereof,  and  compleat  the  same  on  or  before  the  twelfth  Instant 
in  order  to  be  examined,  that  the  Justices  may  issue  their  warrants 
for  collecting  the  same  accordingly. 

City  of  New  York,  ss. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Justices  and  Vestrymen  at  the  City  Hall  of 
the  said  City,  on  the  16th  of  Dec,  1715,  His  Excellency  the  Gover- 
nors Letter  and  his  Majestys  Most  Gracious  Letter  hereafter  following 
were  read,  and  it  being  put  to  the  vote  whether  this  Board  should 
immediately  proceed  to  the  payment  of  the  money  mentioned  in  his 
Majesty's  letter,  or  first  examine  into  the  truth  of  the  suggestions  of 
Mr.  Veseys  Petition,  on  which  his  Majesty's  Lre  was  granted.  It  ia 
the  opinion  of  this  Board  (Mr.  Cornelius  Lodge  only  excepted)  that 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  337 

they  first  examine  into  the  truth  of  those  suggestions  of  Mr.  Vesey's 
petition  upon  which  the  said  Petition  was  granted,  and  that  Mr.  Vesey 
be  pleased  to  acquaint  this  Board  of  those  affairs  of  the  Church  that 
called  him  home,  and  that  he  be  forthwith  served  with  a  copy  hereof. 
Pr  order  of  the  Justices  and  vestrymen  — 

Will  Sharpas,  Ck. 

Mr.  Elliston  according  to  order  was  called  in  to  set  forth  the  alle- 
gations of  his  Petition,  and  being  heard  Ordered,  the  same  be  referred 
to  the  Committee  appointed  to  audit  Mr.  Jamisons  accounts. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  held  on  the  25th  of 
August,  1716,  Mr.  Vesey  acquainted  this  Board  that  the  Justices  & 
Church  Wardens  of  the  City  Vestry  had  at  his  Excellencys  desire 
signed  warrants  for  all  his  salary  that  was  due  to  him ;  on  which  it 
was  unanimously  resolved  by  this  Board  to  address  his  Excellency 
thereon,  and  accordingly  an  address  was  presented  to  the  Board,  read 
and  signed  by  all  present,  who  forthwith  attended  his  Excellency  with 
their  address  ;  which  being  read  was  approved  of,  &c. 


338 


HISTORY    OF 


F. 


Mr.  Robinson  delivered  a  List  of  Patents  for  pews  in  Trinity  Church, 
sold  by  the  Church  Wardens  for  the  time  being,  since  the  tenth  of 
June,  1724,  to  the  twelfth  of  June,  1729,  which  was  ordered  to  be 
entered  in  the  Churche's  Book,  and  is  as  followeth  (vizt.) : 

List  of  patents  delivered  for  pews  sold  at  vendue  11th  June,  1724, 
and  since,  vizt. : 


Nam.ee  of  Patentee). 

Bo, 

Date. 

8       *« 

£  s. 

ft  5-  ^ 
£    s. 

ft, 

s:0 

e  o 

3  ft. 

e»  Co 

ft. 

£     8.    *.. 

Ill 

£  s.    d. 

Mr.  Joseph  Reade 

half  a: 

Pew 

80 

17  June  1724 

54  00 

20  00 

00  00  00 

7  00  00 

John  Moore 

whole 

do 

96 

17  June  1724 

43  00 

10  00 

00  00  00 

33  00  00 

Stephen  DeLancey 

do 

do 

79 

17  June  1724 

50  00 

00  00 

00  00  00 

50  00  00 

William  Dugdale 

do 

do  101 

17  June  1724 

26  00 

00  00 

19    9    1 

26  00  00 

John  Reade 

half 

do 

80 

17  June  1724 

54  00 

15  00 

00  00  00 

12  00  00 

Mrs.  Anne  Harison 

do 

do 

82 

17  June  1724 

37  00 

00  00 

00  00  00 

18  10  00 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Thody 

do 

do 

82 

17  June  1724 

37  00 

3  00 

00  00  00 

15  10  00 

Mr.  Thomas  Lynch 

one-third 

do 

77 

17  June  1724 

44  00 

10  00 

00  00  00 

4  13    4 

Robert  Livingston,  Jr. 

half 

do 

104 

17  June  1724 

30  00 

00  00 

14  00    6 

15  00  00 

Thomas  Clarke 

whole 

do 

83 

17  June  1724 

23  00 

00  00 

00  00  00 

23  00  00 

John  Waldron 

half 

do 

UM 

17  June  1724 

30  00 

3  00 

00  00  00 

12  00  00 

John  Searle 

do 

do 

75 

17  June  1724 

40  00 

00  00 

14  15    8 

20  00  00 

James  Searle 

do 

do 

75 

17  June  1724 

40  00 

3  00 

00  00  00 

17  00  00 

Henry  Wroe 

do 

do 

92 

13  July  1724 

25  00 

00  00 

00  00  00 

12  10  00 

Andrew  Marschalck 

do 

do 

92 

13  July  1724 

25  00 

00  00 

00  00  00 

12  10  00 

Elias  Grasilier 

do 

do 

103 

17  July  1724 

30  00 

00  00 

00  00  00 

5  00  00 

Peter  Morgat 

do 

do 

103 

17  July  1724 

30  00 

10  00 

00  00  00 

15  00  00 

Henry  Lane 

do 

do 

81 

17  June  1724 

45  00 

6  00 

00  00  00 

16  10  00 

Anthony  Duane 

whole 

do 

94 

20  July  1724 

27  00 

11  00 

00  00  00 

17  00  00 

Walter  Thong 

do 

do 

105 

17  June  1724 

40  00 

00  00 

00  00  00 

40  00  00 

Mrs.  Mary  Vesey 

do 

do 

97 

18  June  1724 

35  00 

30  00 

00  00  00 

5  00  00 

Mr.  Joseph  Robinson 

do 

do 

93 

17  June  1724 

2G  00 

10  00 

00  00  00 

16  00  00 

John  McEvers 

one-third 

do 

77 

17  June  1724 

44  00 

10  00 

00  00  00 

4  13    4 

Peter  Simmons 

half 

do 

109 

17  June  1724 

25  00 

5  00 

00  00  00 

7  10  00 

John  Auboyneau 

do 

do 

98 

17  June  1724 

34  00 

00  00 

00  00  00 

17  00  00 

Cadwallader  Colden 

do 

do  106 

7           1724 

25  00 

00  00 

00  00  00 

25  00  00 

Enoch  Stephenson 

do 

do 

74 

20  Jany  1724 

40  00 

00  00 

00  00  00 

20  00  00 

James  Henderson 

whole 

do 

25  M'ch  1725 

25  00 

10  00 

00  09  00 

15  00  00 

John  Walter        [Schuyler]     half 

do 

107 

22  May  do 

25  00 

00  00 

00  00  00 

12  10  00 

Mrs.  Mary  Schuyler,  wife  of  Ar.   do. 

do  107 

22  May  do 

25  00 

10  00 

00  00  00 

2  10  00 

John  Woodside 

one-third 

do 

84 

1  July  do 

20  00 

00  00 

00  00  00 

6  13    4 

Mrs.  Margret  Peers,  wife  of  Edmd.  P. 

do 

90 

17  July  do 

20  00 

1  00 

00  00  00 

20  00  00 

Andrew  Bissett 

one-third 

do 

84 

1  July  do 

20  00 

2  00 

00  00  00 

4  13    4 

Mathew  Wolfe 

half 

do 

61 

1  July  do 

20  00 

00  00 

00  00  00 

6  13    4 

TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK. 


Names  of  Patentees. 

James  Alexander 
Francis  Sylvester 
Joseph  Haines 
John  Browuo 


No. 

whole    do    95 
half    do  109 
one-third    do    77 
whole    do    91 
Nathl.  John  McCarston  do    do  100 

Augustus  Jay  half    do      7 

Thomas  Bayeaux  half  pew  in  new  building  74 
Thos.  Hopkins  do  do  old  building  81 
Obdiah  Hunt  whole    do  do  86 

Thomas  Braine  half    do  do  98 

Robert  Crooke      do    do  do  76 

Charles  Crooke     do    do  do  76 

John  Pintard         do    do  do  24 

Christopher  Fell  do  do  uew  building  112 
Benjamin  Pell      do    do    do        do  36 

Lawrence  Garner  do    do    do        do  36 

Simeon  Soumaine  whole    do        do  110 

Georgo  Talbott  half    do        do  99 

John  Balme  do    do        do  99 

Elizabeth  Bickley        do    do        do  78 

Benjamin  D'Harriote   do    old       do  26 

Samuel  Heath         whole    new     do  87 

Isaac  Johnson  half    old      do  2 

Daniel  Seymour  do    do        do  1 

John  Kelly  do     do        do  1 

John  Dupuy  whole    do        do  37 

David  Clarkson  do    do        do  6 

John  Chambers  half    do        do  5 

Peter  Vallete  do  in  South  Gallery  73 

Henry  Wileman  whole  new  buildiug  108 
Peter  Barberie  half    do        do  78 

William  Kirton  do    old       do  38 


Date. 


8      >s 

g"*J2. 


•e  as 


5?  o»     G 


C3   O 

2  »* 


339 


§  5  2 


8 


13Aprl.l725  28  00 
17  June  1724  25  00 
17  June  1724  44  00 
2  July  1725  24  10 
2  July  1725  29  00 
23  Aug.  1726    18  00 

10  Sep.  1726 
17  June  1724 
17  Juno  1724 
17  Juno  1724 
17  June  1724 
17  June  1724 
26  Aprl.  1727    00  00 

2  May  1726    10  00 

11  May  1727 
11  May  1727 
30  June  1727 

26  July  1727 

27  July  1727 
27  July  1727  Given 
14  Aug.  1727  20  00 
11     1727  10  00 

9  May.  1728  10  00 
10  May  1728  10  00 
10  May  1728  10  00 
24  May  1723  20  00 
24  June  1728  00  00 

2  Aug.  1728  00  00 
19  Aug.  1728  21  00 
24  Jan.  1728-9  25  00 
16  June  1724  23  00 
K  June  1729  10  00 


22  10 
22  10 
10  00 
34  00 
19  00 
19  00 


10  00 
10  00 
28  00 
15  00 
15  00 


10  00  00  00  00  18  00  00 

2  00  00  00  00  10  10  00 

10  00  00  00  00  4  13  00 

10  00  00  00  00  14  10  00 

00  00  00  00  00  29  00  00 

00  00  00  00  00  18  00  00 

2  10  00  00  00  20  00  00 

10  00  00  00  00  12  10  00 

5  00  00  00  00  5  00  00 
00  00  00  00  00  17  00  00 

6  00  00  00  00  13  00  00 
00  00  00  19  00  00 


00  00 
00  00 
3  4 
2  10 
10  00 


00  00  00  20  00  00 
00  00  00   6  16  00 


00  00  00   7  10  00 
00  00  00  00  00  00 

1  00  00  00  00  27  00  00 

10  00  00  00  00   5  00  00 

10  00  00  00  00   5  00  00 

to  her  by  the  Vestry,  gratis. 

00  00  00  00  00  20  00  00 

3  00  00  00  00 

3  00  00  00  00 
00  00  00  00  00 
00  00  00  00  00 
00  00 
00  00 
00  00  00  00  00  22  00  00 

3  00  00  00  00 

5  00  00  00  00 
10  00  00  00  00 
00  00   1  15  6 


7  00  00 

7  00  00 
10  00  00 
10  00  00 

00  00  00  20  00  00 
00  00  00   9  00  00 

18  00  00 
20  00  00 
13  00  00 

8  4    6 


Ordered,  That  the  price  for  erecting  a  Tombstone  on  any  part  of 
the  New  Ground  in  the  Church  Yard  be  six  pounds. 


340 


HISTORY    OF 


G.    56    H. 

SUBSCRIPTION  TOWARDS  ENLARGING  THE  CHURCH. 

To  all  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come.  Whereas,  the  Rector, 
Church  Wardens,  and  Vestrymen  of  Trinity  Church,  in  the  City  of 
New-York,  have  for  the  Glory  of  Almighty  God,  and  the  advancement 
of  his  Holy  religion,  unanimously  proposed,  and  agreed  to  enlarge  the 
said  Church  by  carrying  out  the  old  building  on  the  North  and  South 
sides,  and  making  and  completing  the  same  conformable  to  the  new 
building  or  addition  lately  made  on  the  East  end  thereof:  Therefore, 
in  order  to  encourage  and  further  the  carrying  on  of  so  useful  and  pious 
a  work,  We,  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed  do  respectively 
promise  and  oblige  ourselves,  to  pay  unto  Messrs.  Joseph  Robinson 
and  Joseph  Murray,  the  present  Wardens  of  the  said  Church  or  their 
order,  the  respective  sums  of  money  by  us  respectively  subscribed  and 
inserted  in  the  column  against  our  respective  names,  as  witness  our 
hands  this  second  day  of  July,  Anno  Domini,  1736. 


£ 

s.    d. 

£    s. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Vesey 

50 

00  00 

Lewis  Johnston 

5 

Joseph  Robinson 

10 

Peter  Jay 

3 

Joseph  Murray 

10 

Richard  Charlton 

1   10 

John  Moore 

5 

Robert  Jenney 

1   10 

Jno.  Chambers 

10 

Nathl.  Marston,  Jr. 

4     4 

Jno.  McEvers 

5 

Will.  Sharpas 

3 

Jos.  Reade 

10 

John  Walter 

10 

Augustus  Jay 

10 

Mrs.  Thomas  Bayeux 

Simeon  Soumaine 

1 

by  the  hands  of  Mr. 

Daniel  Horsmanden 

5 

Charlton    to     Will, 

Anth.  Duane 

5 

"Vesey. 

5 

Will.  Hamersley 

1 

10 

Mrs.  Schuyler 

5 

Robert  EUiston 

8 

Harmanus  Rutgers 

5 

John  Auboyneau 

2 

Willm.  Walton 

4 

Henry  Row 

2 

Jacob  Walton 

1   10 

Richd.  Nichols 

1 

10 

William  Smith 

4 

Stephen  DeLancey 

25 

Edward  Hicks 

1     8 

Geo.  Clarke 

10 

Peter  Vallete 

3 

James  DeLancey 

15 

Robert  Watts 

10 

TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK. 


341 


d. 


Mrs.  Heathcote 

5 

Mich.  Thodey 

1   10 

James  Faviere 

2 

Thos.  Day 

2 

Abrah.  Ketletas 

2 

Peter  Schuyler 

10 

Richd.  Durham 

2 

2 

Peter  Depeyster 

2  10 

Charles  Williams 

2 

16 

Adoniah  Schuyler 

5 

Petrus  Rutgers 

1 

Richd.  Annely 

15 

Fredk.  Morris 

3 

John  Hunt 

6 

Frances  Sylvester 

2 

Wiilm.  Jamison 

10 

John  Pintard 

1 

8 

Simon  Johnson 

1     8 

John  Sayre 

10 

Joseph  Willson 

1     8 

Joseph  Leddel 

1 

8 

Willm.  Chambers 

1     8 

George  Burnet 

6 

John  Johnson 

10 

Jacob  Golet 

1 

David  Galatian 

15 

Margaret  Dunck 

10 

John  Thurman 

10 

Benj.  Peck 

1 

Richd.  Go'le 

6 

Mrs.  Ricket 

5 

Abrm.  Skinner 

5 

David  Jamison 

10 

John  Hilliard 

6 

David  Clarkson 

5 

Lydia  Brasier 

10 

Ma.  Clarkson 

3 

Anne  Avery 

10 

Capt.  Andw.  Nicholls 

1 

8 

Francis  Brasier 

6 

Jere.  Dunbar 

2 

David  Cox 

6 

Obd.  Hunt 

1 

Daniel  Ebbets 

3 

William  English 

1 

Rd   Schuckburgh 

1     8 

Isaac  &  Abraham  De 

- 

Debrah  Shareman 

10 

peyster 

1 

8 

Andw.  Mansfield 

15 

Humphrey  Jones 

1 

Benj.  Thomas 

7 

James  Darcy 

1 

John  Bond 

10 

Benjamin  D'Harriott 

1 

Elizabeth  Carpenter 

1 

Thomas  Niblett 

10 

Benj.  Moor 

10 

Thomas  Hall 

10 

Robert  Moral 

5 

John  Cassall 

14 

Richard  Baker 

5 

Isaac  Twentyman 

1 

8 

Patrick  Nealson 

15 

Jas  Roossevelt 

1 

George  Lurting 

1 

Abram.  Van  Wyck 

14 

John  Smith 

1   10 

Joseph  Cowley 

1 

8 

Gabriel  Crooke 

1 

J.  Browne 

5 

Christopher  Cod  wise 

14 

John  Waldron 

1 

George  Ingoldesby 

1     8 

342 


HISTORY    OF 


Paul  Richard 
Tim  Bagly 
H.  Cuisman 
Henry  Nedham 
Peter  Low 
John  Stephens 
John  Taylor 
Thomas  Lynch 
John  Greetbeek 
J.  Royall 
Saml.  Lawrence 
Thomas  Hunk 
Henry  Cuyler 
Wm.  Smith 
Phillip  Cortland 
Ab.  Depeyster 
Robert  Livingston 
Jno.  Fred 
Christopher  Fell 
nos.  Brinckerhoff 
R.  Hot 

Antho.  Rutgers 
Rip  Van  Dam 
Robt.  Livingston,  Jr. 
Moise  Gombexuto 
Catharine  Searle 
Mrs.  FlorindaPaintard 
John  Dyer 
Charles  Le  Roux 
Cadwallader  Williams 
John  Kelly 
Abraham  Boelen 
Joseph  Sackett 
John  Bries 
Saml.  Bourdet 
Benj.  Hildreth 
John  Troup 
J.  Dupuy 


14 


£ 
5 
5 
2 
5 

1     8 

I     8 

2 

1  8 
10 
14 
2 

1  10 
10 

2  10 
5 

5 

2 

3 
6 
10 

5 

1 
14 
14 

2 

1  10 
10 
10 

2  4 
2 

12 

14 
2 
5 

14 
3 

10 


James  Henderson 
Chrisp  Banker 
Abraham  Lodge 
Elizabeth  Deane 
James  Lyne 
Robert  Todd 
Ja.  Alexander 
Geor.  Duncan 
Mr.  John  Roosevelt 
Mr.  Vanderheul 
Thomas  Vatar 
Archd.  Fisher 
R.  Bradley 
Mr.  Degrave 
Thos.  Behenna 
Catrena  Golet 
Phuchas  Eyers 
John  Turner 
Edward  Man 
Thomas  Hodgins 
T.  Braine 

Capt.  Peter  Warren 
Euph.  Norris 
Jacob  Bloom 
Mrs.  Vetch 
Gulian  V3rplanck 
Richd.  Fowle 
John  Poulton 
Edw.  Burows 
John  Reade 
William  Leaycraft 
John  Perrenchicf 
Joseph  Hinson 
Joseph  Haynes 
Thomas  Freeman 
Mrs.  Stephenson 


8 
10 


14 


10 


£ 

1 
1 

3 
1 
1 

2 
1 
2 

2 

1   10 
1 

1  8 
6 

10 
1 
10 
10 

1 
1 

2  10 
10 
10 

4 

1     8 
5 
7 
14 
15 
5 
14 
14 
10 
3 
10 
3 


d. 


£517     9     6 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW- YORK.  343 

I. 

REPORT  OF  THE  BUILDING  COMMITTEE. 

The  Committee' for  superintending  the  building  of  the  new  edifice  of 
Trinity  Church,  having  completed  the  trust  committed  to  them,  beg 
leave  to  submit  to  the  Vestry  the  following  Report  of  their  proceed- 
ings, and  of  the  expenditures  in  the  erection  and  completion  of  the 
Church  with  its  appendages  : 

The  roof  of  the  late  Trinity  Church,  having  been  considered  in  an 
unsafe  condition,  and  the  expedients  adopted  to  strengthen  it  having 
failed  to  allay  apprehension,  the  Vestry  determined  on  the  6th  of  May, 
1839,  to  have  a  new  roof,  and  to  make  other  repairs  and  improve- 
ments  :  and  for  that  purpose  appointed  a  Committee,  consisting  of 

Messrs.  Wm.  H.  Harison,        )  ^  ,i     ^         ...        c 

-.XT      r>    r\  s   (  Composing  the  Committee  ot 

Wm.  E.  Dunscomb  &  >      a      v  a  t> 

t,  TT  (      bupplies  and  Repairs. 

Robert  Hyslop.  ; 

To  whom  were  added : 

Messrs.  Thomas  L.  Ogden, 

Jonathan  H.  Lawrence,  and 

Adam  Tredwell. 

Mr.  Ogden  was  appointed  Chairman  of  the  Joint  Committee,  and 
Richard  Upjohn  Draughtsman  and  Superintendent  of  repairs  and  alter- 
ations. After  taking  off  the  old  roof  and  taking  down  part  of  the  side 
walls,  which  had  sprung  out,  the  architect  discovered  the  spire,  which 
was  of  wood,  much  decayed,  and  the-  stone  tower  in  an  unsafe  condi- 
tion. 

This  was  unexpected  by  the  Committee,  and  if  truly  represented,  it 
appeared  to  them  to  be  useless  and  bad  economy  to  go  on  with  the  re- 
pairs. Being  unwilling  however,  to  abandon  the  intended  repairing 
of  the  old  building,  the  Committee  directed  a  survey  to  be  made  by  se- 
veral builders,  who  reported  the  tower  unfit  to  stand.  Their  certifi- 
cates were  laid  before  the  Vestry,  and  they  determined  to  take  down 
the  old  church  and  erect  a  new  one.  The  same  Committee  was  con- 
tinued, and  directed  by  the  Vestry  to  build  a  new  church  edifice, 
agreeably  to  the  plan  furnished  by  Mr.  Upjohn,  the  Architect.  The 
old  building  was  thereupon  taken  down  and  removed,  and  the  founda- 
tion walls  of  the  new  edifice  were  commenced  laying  on  the  17th  of 


344  HISTORY    OF 

October,  in  the  year  1839.     The  Committee  considering  the  indispen- 
sable importance  of  constructing  the  foundations  in  the  most  secure 
manner,  resolved  to  lay  them  by  day's  work,  and  they  were  so  laid 
under  the  direction  of  Messrs.  J.  and  J.  A.  Harriott.     The  Commit- 
tee found  it  impracticable  to  contract  for  the  whole  building  to  advan- 
tage ;  but  the  principal  part,  that  of  preparing  the  materials  to  be  put 
together,  has  been  executed  under  contracts  at  various  times  and  with 
different  parties.     The  materials  have  all  been  procured  by  the  Com- 
mittee,  and  are  of  the  first  quality.     The   Committee  made   every  in- 
quiry as  to  the  fitness,  quality  and  cost  of  the  various  kinds  of  stone  for 
the  proposed  edifice,  and  of  the  supplies  that  could  be  had,  from  the 
different  quarries  within  a  convenient  distance  from  the  city,  and  se- 
lected the  brown  stone  from  Little  Falls,  New-Jersey,  as  the  most 
suitable  in  colour  and  durability  ;  and  the  same  was  recommended  to 
and  adopted  by  the  Vestry  : — and  the  stone  from  Little  Falls  was 
thereupon  furnished  by  contract ;  and  the  whole  exterior  of  the  Church? 
tower  and  spire,  the  large  cut  stone  columns  to  support  the  Clere  story, 
and  other  fine  work  of  the  interior,  were  constructed  of  this  stone. 
The  Committee  very  early  provided  themselves  with  a  quantity  of  the 
best  oak  timber,  for  the  pews,  wainscotting,  screen,  &c,  and  had  it 
sawed  and  properly  exposed  to  undergo  the  seasoning  process.     And 
also,  to  facilitate  operations,  procured  a  Steam  Engine  and  machinery 
for  hoisting  stone  and  other  materials,  which  answered  a  very  good 
purpose  ;  also,  a  large  iron  chest,  now  in  the  Sexton's  room  at  Trinity 
Church,  for  the  more  safe-keeping  of  the  drawings  and  designs  of  the 
Architect,  and  the  books  and  papers  of  the  Committee. 

The  whole  of  the  Mason's  work  has  been  done  by  the  day,  under 
the  charge  of  James  Vandenburgh,  an  experienced  workman  ;  the 
Carpenter's  work  has  also  been  done  principally  by  the  day.  All  un- 
der the  direction  and  inspection  of  Mr.  Upjohn,  the  Architect.  The 
Committee's  regular  day  of  meeting,  was  every  Tuesday.  Two  o 
the  Committee,  viz. :  Messrs.  Treadwell  and  Hyslop,  were  appointed 
a  sub-Committee  to  audit  and  examine  all  accounts,  to  be  reported  and 
passed  on  by  the  Committee.  Pay  day  was  once  in  two  weeks,  the 
bills  and  claims  presented  were  particularly  examined  by  the  auditors, 
then  passed  by  the  Committee,  with  an  order  on  the  Comptroller,  or 
certificate  of  the  passing  of  the  bill  signed  by  the  Chairman  for  pay- 
ment.    The  Committee  have  met  for  the  transaction  of  business  three 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  345 

hundred  and  eighty-nine  times,  and  have  taken  regular  minutes 
thereof. 

0:i  Monday,  the  3d  of  June,  1841,  a  leaden  hox,  with  suitable  in- 
ssripticm,  and  containing  the  varion  mammals  heretofore  reported  to 
the  Ve3try,  was  deposited  in  the  place  male  for  the  purpose,  in  the 
large  corner-stone  of  the  North  East  buttress  of  the  tower.  All  the 
monuments  and  mural  tablets,  formerly  in  the  old  Church,  have  been 
removed  and  placed  in  the  rear  apartments  of  the  edifice,  as  directed  by 
the  Vestry.  The  stained  glass  window.,  were  executed  and  put  up  by 
Mr.  Aimer  Stephenson,  and  cellars  have  been  excavated  in  front  and  rear, 
and  the  Church  heated  by  hot  air  furnaces,  according  to  Fox's  patent, 
patent. 

The  Organ  and  case  have  been  built  and  erected  by  Mr.  Henry 
Erben,  according  to  the  specifications  and  plan,  and  under  the  super- 
vision of  Doctor  Edward  Hodges,  and  the  instrument  has  given  very 
general  satisfaction.* 

Specifications  were  issued  for  the  Church  c'ock,  and  various  c  sti- 
matcs  obtained,  and  the  contract  for  the  same  was  finally  made  with 
Mr.  James  Rodgers  ;  the  clock  was  required  to  be  of  the  best  materials 
and  workmanship,  and  warranted  to  keep  accurate  time.  The  clock 
has  been  placed  in  the  tower,  and  is  in  operation,  and  the  appendages 
and  striking  part  are  nearly  completed. 

*  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  Organists  of  Trinly  Parish  : — 
ORGANISTS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 
Mr.  Clemm,  Jr.,  1741     Mr.  Wilson,  1804 

Thomas  Harison,  Peter  Erben,  1820 

John  Rice,  Edward   Hodge3,  Doctor  of  Music, 

Mr.  Muller,  1795         from  the  University  of  Cambridge, 

Dr.  Jackson,  1802         England,  1846 

ORGANIST     OF  ST.  GEORGE'S  CHAPEL. 
Mr.  Hewitt,  1794     Peter  Erben,  1807 

Dr.  Jackson 

ORGANISTS  OF  ST.  PAUL'S  CHAPEL. 
Mr.  Ransch,  1802     Geo.  Dodges, 

Thomas  Brown,  1806     Mr.  Huntington, 

S.  B.  Taylor,  1^34      Henry    W.  Greatorex,  1846 

ORGANISTS  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHAPEL. 
Peter  Erben,  1813     Dr.  Edward  Hodges,  1839 

P.  K.  Moran,  Mr.  Rolph,  1846 


Charles  Wilson, 


22 


346  HISTORY    OF 

The  Committee  have  to  report,  with  regret,  the  decease  of  two  of 
their  members.  It  appears  from  their  minutes,  that  the  last  time  Mr. 
Lawrence  attended  the  Committee  was  on  the  second  of  January,  1844. 
His  health  had  been  previously  failing  for  some  time,  and  on  the  4th  of 
June,  following,  the  minutes  record  his  death.  During  his  continu- 
ance, he  paid  all  that  attention  to  the  business  of  the  Committee,  which 
his  age  and  impaired  health  would  permit. 

The  last  time  that  Mr.  Ogden  appears  to  have  attended  the  Commit- 
tee, was  on  the  12th  of  November,  1844,  and  it  is  remarkable,  that  the 
only  business  then  transacted,  was  the  presentation  by  him  of  the  spe- 
cification and  contract  for  the  Tower  Clock,  thus  being  engaged  with 
the  rest  of  the  Committee  in  preparing  an  instrument,  to  note  the  rapid 
flight  of  time,  which  for  him  was  to  be  so  short,  for  he  departed  this 
life  on  the  17th  day  of  December  following.  Mr.  Ogden,  from  the 
commencement  to  the  close  of  his  connection  with  the  Committee,  was 
constant  and  indefatigable  in  the  duties  devolving  upon  him,  as  he  was 
in  other  matters  entrusted  to  his  care  and  management.  But,  alas,  his 
eyes  were  not  permitted  to  see  the  edifice  in  its  beauteous,  perfect  and 
finished  state,  which  he  had  long  desired.  It  is  to  be  hoped  however, 
that  he,  as  well  as  other  deceased  fellow- members,  having  finished 
their  multiplied  labours  here,  have  gone  to  the  rest  reserved  for  the 
people  of  God,  in  that  glorious  temple  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in 
the  heavens. 

After  the  decease  of  Mr.  Ogden,  Mr.  Treadwell  was  appointed  Chair- 
man of  the  Committee,  and  Mr.  Dunscomb  Secretary.  And  from  and 
after  the  eleventh  day  of  February,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
forty-five,  Messrs.  William  Moore  and  Henry  Youngs,  according  to 
the  resolution  of  the  Vestry,  also  acted  as  members  of  the  Committee. 
The  Committee  have  now  to  report  the  Church  as  completed,  and  that 
it  was  duly  consecrated  on  Ascension  Day,  the  twenty-first  of  May  last, 
and  that  all  the  payments  made,  have  been  by  directions  of  the  Com- 
mittee. It  is  a  subject  of  congratulation,  that  in  the  erection  of  a  build- 
ing of  such  magnitude  and  elevation,  no  serious  accident  or  loss  of  life 
has  occurred  among  the  workmen  employed. 

The  whole  payments  for  the  Church,  Tower  and  Spire,  including 
compensation  to  vault  holders,  and  the  cost  of  new  vaults,  supplied  to 
the  owners  of  those  rendered  useless  by  the  new  buildmg,  and  includ- 
ing the  expense  of  taking  down  the  old  Church  edifice,  the  steam  en- 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  347 

gine  and  boiler,  derricks  and  cordage,  croton  water  pipes,  workshops 
office,  the  Church  Organ  and  case,  the  clock,  four  bells  to  complete 
the  chime,  the  iron  railing  in  front,  and  the  flagging  in  the  front  of  and 
around  the  Church,  amount  in  the  whole  to  the  sum  of  $356,285  94 
There  is  yet  to  be  paid  to  Mr.  Rodgers  a  balance  of 
$1600,  due  for  the  clock,  and  payable  in  nine  month's 
after  it  is  in  successful  operation  1,600  00 

And  also  for  additional  work  on  clock,  as  stated  below  744  00 


$358,629  94 

Henry  Erben — organ — per  contract  $6,300  00 

"         "           organ  case     do                            2,000  00 
"           extra  work  on  organ  case             431  72 
"         "           For  loss  occasioned  by  inter- 
ruption of  his  work                     270  00 
"         "           For  loss  sustained  by  him  on 

his  contract  for  organ  1,500  00 

Dr.  Hodges — superintending  its  construction 

and  other  services  750  00 


$11,251  72 

Clock  per  contract  3,600  00 

"      Additional  work  per  contract  744  00 


$4,344  00 
Four  Bells  imported  1,509  95 

Taking  down,  moving  out,  altering  and  re- 
erecting  the  iron  railing  in  front,  and  other 
work  1,033  93 

Flagging  in  front  and  around  the  Church  by 

contract  1,896   30 

Paid  for  vaults  in  lieu  of  those  covered  by  the 

new  Church  600  00 


$5040  18     20,635    90 
Cost  of  Church  edifice,  including  furniture  for 
the  chancel  and  all  other  expenses,  except 
the  organ,  clock,  &c,  as  stated  above  337,994  04 

$358,629  94 


348  HISTORY    OF 

The  only  claims  against  the  Church,  which  have  not  been  passed 
by  the  Committee,  are  for  the  clock,  viz. :  $744  for  additional  contract 
and  $1600  to  be  paid  in  nine  months.  The  Committee  ask  to  be  dis- 
charged, and  that  the  Committee  of  supplies  and  repairs  be  authorized 
to  audit,  and  order  payment  of  same  when  due. 

The  Committee  have  kept  a  book,  in  which  the  several  contracts 
made  by  them  from  time  to  time  have  been  recorded,  and  to  which 
they  beg  leave  to  refer  for  all  the  particulars  thereof. 

The  Committee  also  present  and  submit  to  the  Vestry,  a  book 
containing  the  minutes  of  its  proceedings  at  each  day  of  its  meeting ; 
and  would  respectfully  recommend  it  to  be  preserved  with  the  other 
books  and  papers  of  the  Committee  in  the  Comptroller's  offioe.  Also, 
a  book  containing  a  fair  copy  thereof,  commencing  18th  Sept.,  1839. 
All  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 
Dated,  January  Wth,  1847. 

Adam  Tredwell, 
Robert  Hyslop, 
Wm.  E.  Dunscomb, 
Wm.  H.  Harison, 
Henry  Youngs, 
Willm.  Moore. 
Building  Committee  of  Trinity  Church. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  349 


K. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Vestry,  held  on  the  25th  of  May,  1846,  the 
Committee  of  Arrangements  for  the  Consecration  of  Trinity  Cliurch 
made  their  report  in  the  following  words  : — 

That  since  their  appointment  they  have  met  twice  a  week,  and  for  a 
few  days  previous  to  the  consecration,  daily.  That  special  invitations 
were  issued  to  the  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Delancey,  of  the  Diocese  of  Western 
New- York,  to  all  the  Clergy  of  this  Diocese,  to  the  Rectors,  Wardens, 
and  Vestrymen  of  the  Churches  in  this  City,  and  to  every  Clergyman 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  who  manifested,  pursuant  to  a 
published  request,  an  inclination  to  be  present,  and  to  a  number  of 
Laymen  in  this  and  other  States,  holding  offices  or  appointments  in 
the  Church  and  its  institutions  ;  *  *  *  and  that  cards  of  admission 
were  issued  to  the  following  persons,  viz. :  to  all  the  Corporators,  the 
families  of  the  Clergy  of  this  City,  and  to  many  others;  that  the  indi- 
viduals composing  the  procession  met  at  the  house  of  Mr.  William  I. 
Bunker.  No.  39  Broadway,  which  was  kindly  offered  by  him  for  the 
purpose,  where  the  procession  was  formed,  and  walked  to  the  new 
Parish  Church,  as  prescribed  in  the  printed  order  of  procession  mark- 
ed A,   hereto   annexed.      The   procession  having  arrived  at  Trinity 

A. 

ORDER  OF  PROCESSION. 

1.  The  Sextons  and  their  Assistants,  with  staves. 

2.  The  Rector,  Teachers,  and  Scholars  of  Trinity  School  founded 
in  1709,  and  from  that  time  continued  without  interruption. 

3.  The  Architect,  his  Assistants,  and  Master-workmen. 

4.  The  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  with  the  officers  of  the  Corpo- 
ration. 

The  following  part  to  reverse  order,  before  arriving  at  the  Church. 

5.  The  Vestries  of  the  City  Churches,  (in  reverse  order  of  dates  of 
organization,  viz.,  the  last  organized  to  be  first  in  the  line.) 

6.  Students  in  the  General  Theological  Seminary  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States. 


350  HISTORY    OF 

Church,  the  printed  order  of  services  in  the  Church  was  proceeded  in, 
and  the  new  Church  Edifice  and  Steeple  called  Trinity  Church,  front- 
ing  on  Broadway,  opposite  Wall-street  in  the  City  of  New-York,  was 
thereupon,  on  Thursday  the  twenty-first  of  May  instant,  being  the  Feast 
of  the  Ascension  of  our  Blessed  Lord,  duly  consecrated  in  the  presence 
of  a  large  assemblage  of  the  Clergy  and  Laity,  by  the  Right  Revd. 
Samuel  A.  McCoskry,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Michigan,  according 
to  the  General  and  Diocesan  Canons,  and  to  the  rites  and  cere- 
monies of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of 
America.* 

The  Sentence  of  Consecration,  duly  signed,  accompanies  this  report, 
which  your  Committee  desire  may  be  taken  as  a  part  thereof  and  en- 
tered on  the  minutes. 

The  instrument  of  Donation  was  duly  executed,  and  presented  and 

7.  Lay  Trustees  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Society  for  Promoting 
Religion  and  Learning  in  the  State  of  New-York. 

8.  Trustees  of  Columbia  College. 

9.  Lay  Members  of  the  Standing  Committee  of  the  Diocese,  and  Lay 
Delegates  and  Supernumerary  Delegates  to  the  General  Convention. 

10.  Strangers  specially  invited. 

11.  Clergy  in  surplices  not  of  the  degree  of  D.  D. 

12.  Doctors  in  Divinity  in  surplices.  (  Of  whom,  together,  more 
than  one  hundred  and  fifty  thus  robed  were  in  attendance,  besides 
several  others  in  their  gowns.) 

13.  The  Bishop. 

*  The  sentence  of  Consecration  was  read  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  House 
Taylor,  D.  D.  ; 

Morning  Prayer  by  the  Rev.  Jonathan  M.  Wainwright,  D.  D.,  and 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Higbee; 

The  Lessons  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Haight  and  the  Rev.  Samuel  L. 
Southard  ; 

The  Ante-Communion  Service  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lyell,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  Epistle,  which  was  read  by  the  Rector,  and  the  Gospel, 
which  was  read  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Whitehouse. 

And  the  Sermon  was  preached  and  the  Communion  administered 
by  the  Bishop,  with  the  assistance  of  several  of  the  Clergy. 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  351 

delivered  by  the  Senior  Warden  in  behalf  of  this  Corporation,  as  au- 
thorized and  directed  at  a  meeting  of  the  Vestry  held  on  the  day  of 
Consecration.    *     *     * 

William  Berrian, 
Adam  Tree-well, 
Philip  Hone, 
William  E.  Dunscomb, 
Wm.  H.  Harison. 


352  HISTORY    OF 


L. 


WARDENS  AND  VESTRYMEN  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH, 

FROM    THE     FOUNDATION     OF     THE    TARISH    TO    THE    PRESENT    TIME. 

Thomas  Wenham,*  Warden  from  1697  to  1704.  Vestryman  from 
1704  to  1706.  Warden  again  from  1706  to  1709.  Vestryman  again 
in  1709. 

Coin.  Robert  Lurting  f  Warden  1697.  Vestryman  from  1698  to 
1706.     Warden  again  in  1706.     Vestryman  again  from  1707  to  1714. 

Coin.  Caleb  Heathcote^  Vestryman  from  1697  to  1690  ;  and  also 
from  1711  to  1714. 

William  Merret  §  Vestryman  from  1697  to  1700. 

John  Tudor  ||  "         in  1697,  and  also  from  1700  to  1703, 

and  re-elected  again  in  1705. 

James  Emott,  Vestryman  from  1697  to  1711,  and  re-elected  in  1719. 

William  Morris,1F    "         from  1697  to  1704. 

Thomas  Clarke,*  *  Vestryman  in  1697.  Warden  from  1698  to 
1700. 

Ebenezer  Wilson,  Vestryman  from  1697  to  1705. 

Samuel  Burt,  "         in  1697. 

James  Evets,  "         from  1697  to  1700. 

Nathaniel  Marston,  "         in  1697,  in  1705,  from  1708  to  1718, 

in  1724,  and  from  1727  to  1731. 

Michael  Howden,  Vestryman  from  1797  to  1702,  and  from  1704 
to  1710. 

John  Crooke,  Vestryman  frcm  1697  to  1703,  and  agnin  from  1705 
to  1708.     Warden  from  1708  to  1713.     Vestryman  again  in  1713. 

*  Member  of  his  Majesty's  Council. 

+  Many  years  Alderman  of  Dock  Ward,  first  Ward  of  the  City,  and  Mayor  of 
New-York  from  1722  to  1735. 

t  Member  of  Council  and  Mayor  of  the  City  from  1711  to  1714. 

§  Member  of  Council,  and  Member  of  Assembly  for  several  years  for  the  City 
of  New-York,  and  Mayor  of  :he  same  from  1 71)4  to  1709. 

||  Recorder  of  New- York  from  1704  to  1709. 

TT  Chief  Justice  of  the  Province. 

*  *  Member  of  Council. 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  353 

William  Sharpas,*  Vestryman  from  1G97  to  1699,  from  17  II  to 
1700,  and  again  in  1710. 

Lawrence  Read,  Vestryman  in  1G97,  and  in  1709. 

David  Jamison  f  "         from   1097  to    1704.      Warden    fiom 

1704  to  1700.  Vestryman  again  from  1700  to  1709,  and  Warden 
again  from  1709  to  1714. 

William  Huddleston,  Vestryman  from  1097  to  1714. 

Gabriel  Ludlow,  «         in  1097,  from  1700  to  1702,  and 

in  1704. 

Thomas  Burroughs,  Vestryman  from  1097  to  170*2. 

William  Janeway,  "         in  1697,  and  from  1702  to  1704. 

John  Merrct,  "         in  1097. 

Jeremiah  Tothill,  "         from  1098  to  170."). 

Matthew  Clarkson.^  "         from  1098  to  1700,  and  in  1702. 

William  Nicoll  §  "         from  1098  to  1702. 

William  Anderson,  "         from  1098  to  1717. 

Richard  Willet,  "         from  1698  to  1700.     Warden   from 

1700  to  1704.  Vestryman  again  from  1704  to  1707.  Warden  again 
in  1707,  and  Vestryman  again  from  1708  to  1721. 

Robert  Walters,  Vestryman  in  1098. 

Giles  GaudineaU)         "         in  1098. 

Jonathan  Hutchins,      "         from  1099  to  1702. 

Jonathan  Guest,  "         from  1GJ9  to  1701. 

Thomas  Ives,  "         from  1699  to  170o,  and  from   17J3  to 

1708. 

Lancaster  Syms,  Vestryman  from  1699  to  1704,  and  in  1705. 

Roger  Baker,  "         (rem  1700  to  1702. 

Robert  Skelton,  "         from  1700  to  1703. 

Peter  Mathews,  "  in  1701.  and  in  1705. 

Jonathan  Corbet,         "         from  1702  to  1705. 

William  Rear  ree  j|  "  Com  1702  to  1704.  Warden  from  1704 
to  1701.     Vestryman  again  from  171)6  to  1710  an;l  again  in  1711. 


*  Member  of  Council. 

+  Recorder  of  the  City  from  1712  to  172;"),  and  Attorney-General  of  the  Province. 
t  Secretary  of  tlie  Province,  1698. 

§  Associate  Judge,  Member  o'  Assembly  from  Suffolk  County,  and  repeatedly 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Assembly. 

||  Mayor  of  the  C.ty  from  1703  lo  1708. 


354  HISTORY    OF 

William  Smith,*  Vestryman  from  1702  to  1704. 

Robert  Lettice  Hooper,f  Vestryman  in  1702,  and  from  1719  to 
1725. 

Jon.  Theobalds,  Vestryman  from  1702  to  1704. 

Jon.  Burrow,  "         from  1703  to  1705. 

Thomas  Davenport  "  from  1703  to  1710,  and  from  1711  to 
1717. 

Richard  Harris,:}:  Vestryman  in  1703,  from  1706  to  1709,  and  from 
1710  to  1715. 

Matth.  Ling,  Vestryman  in  1703. 

Barth.  Le  Reux,§      "         in  1703,  and  from  1709  to  1714. 

William  Bradford,     "         from  1703  to  1710. 

Sampson  Shelton  Broughton,||  Vestryman  in  1704,  from  1706  to 
1708,  and  from  1709  to  1712. 

Daniel  Honan,  Vestryman  from  1704  to  1706. 

John  Hutchins,1T  "         in  1704. 

Patrick  Crawford         "         in  1704. 

Thomas  Clarke,*  *  "  from  1705  to  1715.  Warden  in  1715. 
Vestryman  again  from  1716  to  1718.  Warden  again  in  1718.  Ves- 
tryman again  from  1720  to  1726,  and  again  from  1727  to  1735. 

Col.  Bayard,ff  Vestryman    from  1705  to  1712. 

Elias  Neau,  "         from  1705  to  1714. 

May  Bickley4$  "         from  1705  to   1714.      Warden  from 

1714  to  1719.  Vestryman  again  from  1719  to  1721,  and  Warden 
again  from  1721  to  1724. 

Mr.  Bret,     Vestryman  from  1706  to  1709. 

Mr.  Regnier,  "  from  1706  to  1709,  from  1710  to  1712,  and 
in  1713. 


*  Alderman  of  the  West  Ward  for  several  years, 
t  Colonel  in  the  British  Army. 
t  Assistant  Alderman  of  the  East  Ward. 
§  Assistant  Alderman  of  the  West  Ward. 

||  Recorder  of  the  City  from  1702  to  1704,  and  Attorney-General  of  the  Province. 
IT  Alderman  of  the  West  Ward. 
**  Secretary  of  the  Province,  1705. 
t+  Alderman  of  Dock  Ward. 

tX  Attorney-General  of  the  Province,  1705,  and  Recorder  of  the  City  from  1708 
to  1712. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  355 

Mr.  Leathes,  Vestryman  from  1706  to  1708. 

Thomas  Byerly         "         in  1708,  and  in  1710. 

Cornelius  Lodge,       "         from  1708  to  1720. 

Abraham  Moore,       "         from  1709  to  1715. 

William  White,         "         from  1710  to  1712. 

Peter  Barberie,  Jr.,  "  in  1710,  and  again  in  1712.  Warden 
from  1713  to  1715.  Vestryman  again  from  1715  to  1722.  Warden 
again  from  1722  to  1726.     Vestryman  again  from  1726  to  1728. 

Andrew  Loran,  Vestryman  in  1710,  and  again  from  1715  to  1717. 

Jos.  Wright,  "         from  1710  to  1712,  and  again  from  1713 

to  1727. 

John  Reade,  Vestryman  in  1711,  and  again  from  1713  to  1719. 
Warden  from  1719  to  1721.  Vestryman  again  from  1721  to  1733, 
and  from  1738  to  1740. 

Mr.  Jamain,  Vestryman  in  1711. 

John  Stephens,  from  1710  to  1715. 

Henry  Vernon,  from  1712  to  1731. 

John  Walter,  in  1712,  1714  to  1716,  and  1717  to  1722. 

Simeon  Soumaine,  from  1712  to  1750. 

Robert  Elliston,*  from  1713  to  1726,  in  1736,  and  from  1740  to 
1756. 

Thomas  Noxon,  from  1713  to  1732. 

William  Howard,  from  1713  to  1715,  and  from  1718  to  1720. 

Gilbert  Ash,  from  1714  to  1718. 

Mr.  Birchfield,  in  1714. 

William  Davis,  from  1714  to  1716. 

George  Cocke,  from  1715  to  1718. 

Joseph  Reade,  Vestryman  from  1715  to  1717,  and  again  from  1718 
to  1721.  Warden  in  1721.  Vestryman  again  from  1722  to  1756. 
Warden  again  from  1756  to  1770.     Vestryman  again  in  1770. 

John  Moore,f  Vestryman  from  1715  to  1719.  Warden  from  1719 
to  1721.     Vestryman  again  from  1721  to  1728. 

George  Clarke,  Warden  from  1716  to  1718. 

John  Hamilton,  Vestryman  from  1716  to  1719. 

Richard  Worsom,  Vestryman  from  1716  to  1718. 


*  Collector  of  his  Majesty's  Customs. 

t  Alderman  of  the  South  Ward  for  eight  years. 


356  history  or 

Alexander  Moore,  Vestryman  from  1716  to  1718,  from  1719  to  1725, 
and  f:oml726  to  1729. 

Benjamin  Hildreth,  Vestryman  from  1717  to  1727. 

James  Dixon,  Vestryman  in  1718. 

Jno.  Auboyneau,  "         in  1718   and  from  1725  to  1745. 

Jno.  Balme,  "         from  1718  to  1724,  in  1726,  and  in  1728. 

Edward  Man,       "         from  1718  to  1720. 

Henry  Wileman,  "         from  1719  to  1727. 

George  Talbot,     "         from  1720  to  1724. 

Robert  Crotke,    "         fion  1723  to  1727. 

Joseph  Murray,*  "  irom  1720  to  1726.  Warden  from  1726  to 
1758. 

William  Dug  laic,  Vestryman  from  1721  to  1725. 

Robert  Livingston,  Jr.  t  Vestryman  from  1721  to  1761. 

Jos  Robinson,  Vestryman  .from  1722  to  1724.  Warden  from  1724 
to  1756.     Vestryman  again  from  175x3  to  1759. 

John  Crooke,  Senr.,  Vestryman  in  1724,  and  from  1727  to  1731. 

Edward  Antill,  Vestryman  from  1724  to  1723. 

Thomas  Hopkins,  Vestryman  in  1725. 

Jno.  Searle,  Vestryman  i'rom  1725  to  1727,  and  from  1728  to  1735. 

James  Searle,      "         from  1725  to  1748. 

John  Waldron,    "         from  172")  to  1732. 

John  Movers,    "         from  172S  to  1752. 

John  Chamber,  "  from  1723  to  1757,  and  Warden  from  1757 
to  1765. 

Stephen  DeLancey  t  Vestryman  from  1727  to  1742. 

Augu?tu3  Jay  §  Vestryman  from  1727  to  1746. 

John  Moore,  Jr.,  "         from  1728  to  1750. 

Peter  Vallete,  "         from  1729  to  1731. 

John  Brown,  "         fr0m  1729  to  1739. 

William  Rickotts,         '■         f  om  1731  to  1736. 

William  Ham-rsley     "         from  1731  to  1753. 

Charles  Crooke  "         Com  1731  to  1764. 


*  Mr.  Murray  was  a  lawyer  of  great  eminence  in  the  city  of  New- York,  about  the 
middle  of  the  last  cent  try.  Ha  w  is  we  o  'the  t  'ouncil,  and  Attorney-General  of  the 
Province,  and  was  mi.ch  celebrated  in  his  day  as  a  constitutional  lawyer. 

t  Speaker  of  the  Ho  lse  of  Assembly.' 

J  Alderman  of  the  West  Ward  and  Member  of  Assembly  for  several  years. 

§  Assistant  Alderman  of  the  South  Ward. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  357 

Nathaniel  Marston,  Jr.,  Vestryman  in  1731,  and  from  1735  to  1770, 
and  Warden  from  1770  to  1779. 

Anthony  Duane,  Vestryman  from  1732  to  1748. 

Peter  Jay,  "         from  1732  to  1740. 

Richard  Nicholls,         "         from  1732  to  1760. 

Ralph  Barker,  "         from  1733  to  1730. 

Daniel  Horsmanden,*  Vestryman  from  1734  to  1765.  Warden  from 
1705  to  1709,  and  Vestryman  again  from  1709  to  1772. 

Henry  Roe,  Vestryman  from  1735  to  1748. 

Robert  Watts,  Vestryman  from  1739  to  1751. 

Gabriel  Ludlow,  "       from  1742  to  1769. 

Edward  Holland,         "       from  1745  to  1757. 

Abraham  Lodge,         "       frbm  1749  to  1759. 

Archibald  Fisher,        "       in  1740. 

Ebenezer  Grant,         "       from  1740  to  1700. 

Charles  Williams,       "       from  1747  to  1774. 

Henry  Ludlow,  "       from  1748  to  1709. 

Thomas  Duncan,        "       from  1748  to  1759. 

Robert Crommeline,   "       from  1753  to  1781. 

Thomas  Moore,  "       from  1750  to  1762. 

Benjamin  Nicoll,        "       from  1751  to  1701. 

George  Harison,         "       from  1752  to  1765. 

Edward  Mann,  "       from  1753  to  1770. 

John  Aspinwall  "       from  1750  to  1760. 

David  Clarkson,         "       from   1757   to   1769.     Warden  in  1770, 
and  Vestryman  again  from  1771  to  1777. 

Andrew  Barclay,  Vestryman  from  1758  to  1777. 
John  Troup,  "         from  1758  to  1702. 

Elias  Desbrosses,+         "         from    1759  to   1773.      Warden  from 
1770  to  1778. 

Robert  Morrell,  Vestryman  from  17  33  to  1731. 

Nicholas  William  Stuyvesant,  Vestryman  from  1763  to  1773. 


*  Recorder  of  the  city  from  1735  to  1747.  O.i?  of  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme 
Court  and  of  the  Colony,  and  afterwards  Chief  Justice. 

t  Alderman  of  the  East  Ward  for  several  years,  a.id  gratefully  remembered  for 
his  legacies  towards  the  establishment  of  a  French  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in 
this  city,  aad  towards  the  support  of  the  Charity  School. 


358 


HISTORY    OF 


Theophylact  Bache,*  Vestryman  from  1760  to  1784,  in  1788,  and 
from  1792  to  1800. 

Adrian  Renaudet,  Vestryman  from  1760  to  1779. 


in  1761. 

from  1761  to  1775. 

from  1761  to  1764. 

from  1762  to  1779. 

from  1762  to  1784. 

from  1762  to  1783. 

from  1764  to  1775,  and  Warden  from 


John  Ludlow,  " 

Alexander  C  olden,  " 

Joseph  Sackett,  " 

Thomas  Hill,  " 

Edward  Laight,  " 

Anthony  Van  Dam,        " 

Robert  R.  Livingston,f  " 
1784  to  1785. 

John  Charlton,  Vestryman  from  1764  to  1784 
to  1806. 

Humphrey  Jones,  Vestryman  from  1764  to  1772. 

Matthew  Clarkson,         "         from  1765  to  1769. 

Benjamin  Kissam,  "         from  1766  to  1783. 

John  Tabor  Kempe4     "         from   1769  to  1778. 
1779  to  1783. 

Miles  Sherbrooke,  Vestryman  from  1769  to  1784. 


W 


arden  from  1794 


Warden  from 


in  1770. 

from  1771  to  1782. 
from  1771  to  1784. 
from  1772  to  1777. 


Mr.  Smith, 

John  Griffith,  " 

Gabriel  H.  Ludlow,         " 
James  Duane,§  " 

lT84tol794. 
Peter  Goelet,  Vestryman  from  1772  to  1782. 
Grove  Bend,  "         from  1773  to  1778. 

Charles  Shaw,  "         from  1774  to  1784. 

Christopher  Smith,  "         from  1774  to  1781. 


Warden  from 


*  For  many  years  a  Governor  and  President  of  the  New- York  Hospital. 

+  Recorder  of  the  City ;  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  Colony  ;  one  of  the 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  ;  Chancellor  of  the  State,  and  Minister 
to  Paris  under  the  Consulate  and  Empire. 

t  Attorney  General  of  the  Province. 

§  Member  of  the  old  Congress  ;  first  Mayor  of  the  City  under  the  government  of 
the  State  of  New-York, ;  first  Judge  of  the  United  States  District  Court  upon  the 
organization  of  the  Judiciary  under  the  present  Constitution  of  the  United  States; 
receiving  the  appointment  from  Washington. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  359 

James  Desbrosses,  Vestryman  from  1775  to  1779.  Warden  from 
1779  to  1784. 

Peter  Van  Schaick,*  L.L.D.,  Vestryman  from  1776  to  1779,  and  in 
1780. 

William  Laight,  Vestryman  from  1777  to  1784,  and  from  1788  to 
1802. 

David  Seabury,  Vestryman  from  1777  to  1784. 

F.  Phillippse,  "         from  1779  to  1782. 

Thomas  Moore,  "         from  1779  to  1784. 

Robert  Watts,  "         from  1778  to  1783.     Warden  in  1783. 

Warden  from  1790  to  1804. 

William    Ustick,   Vestryman  from  1778  to  1784. 

Augustus  Van  Cortlandt,  Vestryman  from  1779  to  1784. 

John  Smith,  Vestryman  from  1781  to  1784. 

Thomas  Ellison,  Vestryman  from  1781  to  1784. 

Abraham  Walton,  "         from  1782  to  1784. 

Cadwallader  Colden,      "         from  1782  to  1784. 

Richard  Harison,f  L.L.D.,  Vestryman  in  1783,  from  1788  to  1811, 
and  Warden  from  1811  to  1827. 

Stephen  Skinner,  Vestryman  in  1783. 

Richard  Morris,}  "         from  1784  to  1785. 

Francis  Lewis,§  "         from  1784  to  1786. 

Col.  Lewis  Morris,  "         from  1784  to  1785. 

Isaac  Sears,||  "         from  1784  to  1786. 

Wm.  Duer,1T  "         from  1784  to  1787. 

Wm.  Bedlow,  "         from  1784  to  1787. 


*  An  eminent  Lawyer  and  accomplished  scholar. 

t  Recorder  of  the  City  from  1797  to  1801  ;  a  distinguished  Lawyer ;  a  fine  class- 
ical scholar,  and  District  Attorney  of  the  United  States,  appointed  by  Washing- 
ton. 

t  Eminent  in  the  civil  affairs  of  the  State,  and  the  organization  of  the  State 
Government ;  preceded  John  Jay  as  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New 
York,  1779,  which  office  he  held  until  his  retirement  from  public  life,  in  1791. 

§  One  of  the  Signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  and  a  Member  of  the 
old  Congress.     He  lived  to  the  age  of  93. 

||  Sheriff  of  London — famous  for  his  eloquence  and  popular  talent — active  in  pro- 
moting the  Declaration  of  Independence,  his  name  frequently  occurring  in  the  po- 
litical history  of  the  times,  and  a  wealthy  merchant. 

IT  Member  of  the  Continental  Congress  from  1777  to  1778. 


360  HISTORY    OF 

Daniel  Diriscomb,  Vestryman  from  1734  to  1739. 

Anthony  Lispenard,  "  from  1734  to  1737. 

Thomas  Tillotston*  "  in  1734. 

Col.  John  Stevens  f  "  from  17  34  to  1787. 

Marinus  Wi'.let  $  "  from  1784  to  1735. 

Robert  Troup  §  "  in  1781,  and  from  1312  to  1817. 

Joshua  Sands  ||  "  from  1734  to  1787. 

Anthony  Griffith,  "  from  17  34  to  1737. 

Christopher  Miller,  "  from  1734  to  1785. 

Thomas  Tucker,  "  in.  1734. 

Hercules  Mulligan,  "  from  1784  to  1787. 

Thomas  Grinneil,  "  in  17  34. 

William  Mercier,  "  from  1734  to  1738. 

John  Rutherfurd.H  "  from  1734  to  1737. 

John  Lawrence,*  *  "  in  1734. 

James  Farquhar,  «  from  1784  to  1801. 

John  Alsop,  "  from  1784  to  1738, 

John  Hunt,  "  in  1784. 

John  Jay,ft  Warden  in  1785,  and  again  from  1788  to  1791. 


*  Member  of  the  Legislature  and  Senate  of  this  State,  and  Secretary  of  the 
Bame. 

t  First  practical  projector  of  Steamboats. 

t  Colonel  in  the  Revolutionary  war— filled  many  honourable  civil  stations,  and 
finally  that  of  Mayor  of  the  city  in  1807  and  181)8. 

§  Colonel  in  the  Revolutionary  army— repeatedly  in  the  Legislature — Judge  of 
the  District  Court,  and  an  eminent  lawyer. 

||  Member  of  the  Legislature  and  Representative  in  Congress. 

If  Colonel  in  the  Revolutionary  army,  and  Senator  of  the  United  States  from 
New-Jersey. 

**  Judge  Advocate  in  the  army  of  the  Revolution — member  of  the  Continental 
Congress  from  1785  to  1787,  and  represented  the  City  of  New  York  in  Congress, 
from  1789  to  1793. 

tt  Signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence — Delegate  to  the  old  Congress 
and  President  of  the  same — Secretary  for  Foreign  affairs  under  the  old  Confedera- 
tion—Minister Plenipotentiary  to  Spain  during  the  Revolution — first  Chief  Justice 
of  the  State — Commissioner  with  Adams  and  Franklin  to  negotiate  a  peace  with 

England Special  Envoy  to  Great  Britain  for  establishing  a  Commercial  treaty  in 

1793— Chief  Justice  of  the  United  States  from  1789  to  1794,  and  Governor  of  the 
State  of  New-York  from  179oto  1801. 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  361 

Thomas  Randall,*  Vestryman  from  1785  to  1791. 
Anthony  L.  Bleecker,  Vestryman  from  1785  to   1807.     Warden 
from  1807  to  1811. 

Paschal  N.  Smith,  Vestryman  in  1785. 

Robert  C.  Livingston,  "  from  1785  to  1795. 

James  Giles.f  "  from  1786  to  1789. 

Morgan  Lewis,$  "  in  1786. 

Andrew  Hamersley,  "  from  1787  to  1807. 

Hubert  Van  Wagenen,  "  from  1787  to  1806. 

Nicholas  Carmer,  "  from  1787  to  1808. 

John  Lewis,  «  from  1787  to  1795. 

Alexander  Ogsbury,  "  from  1787  to  1800. 

Moses  Rogers,  "  from  1787  to  1811. 

George  Dominick,  "  from  1787  to  1792. 

Nicholas  Kortright,  "  from  1787  to  1792. 

Wra.  Bush,  "  from  1787  to  1789. 

Matthew  M.  Clarkson,§  "  from  1788  to  1792. 

Samuel  Bard,||  "  in  1788. 

Wm.  Samuel  Johnson,1T  "  from  1788  to  1801. 

John  Jones,  "  from  1788  to  1800. 

Charles  Startin,  "  from  1788  to  1800. 

*  Founder  of  the  Sailors'  Snug  Harbour. 

+  Major  in  the  Revolutionary  Army — Commissary  General  of  the  State,  after- 
wards Major  General. 

J  Major  in  the  Revolutionary  army,  afterwards  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  and 
Chief  Justice  of  the  State — Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  for  many 
years,  and  until  his  death,  President  of  the  Cincinnati  Society. 

§  Colonel  in  the  Revolutionary  Army,  and  President  of  the  New-York  Hospital, 
and  of  various  other  benevolent  institutions. 

||  An  eminent  Physician — a  Medical  and  Scientific  author — a  Professor  for 
many  years,  and  finally  President  in  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  in 
New-York. 

IT  Member  of  Council  and  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  in  Connecticut — Delegate 
to  the  Congress  of  the  old  confederation — Senator  from  Connecticut  to  the  Con- 
gress of  the  United  States — Doctor  of  Laws  from  the  University  of  Oxford,  and 
President  of  Columbia  College.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Convention  for 
forming  the  present  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  took  an  active  part  in 
the  earlier  councils  of  our  Church,  and  in  the  organization  of  the  General  Conven- 
tion. 

23 


362  HISTORY    OF 

George  Warner,*    Vestryman  from  1789  to  1793. 

Alexander  Hamersley,       "         from  1789  to  1791. 

Thomas  Barrow,  "         from  1790  to  1820. 

David  M.  Clarkson,  "         from  1791  to  1812.     Warden  from 

1812  to  1815. 

Augustus  Van  Home,  Vestryman  from  1792  to  1797. 

Hugh  Gaine,f  "         from  1792  to  1808. 

Peter  Stuyvesant,  "         from  1793  to  1799. 

Jacob  Le  Roy,  "         from  1795  to  1815. 

Francis  Dominick,  "         from  1795  to  1812. 

John  Clark,  "         from  1797  to  1812. 

Frederick  De  Peyster,  "         from  1800  to  1812. 

Andrew  Smith,  "         from  1800  to  1814. 

George  Stanton,  "         in  1800. 

Charles  McEvers,  jr.,  "         from    1800   to  1828.      Warden 

from  1828  to  1839. 

Joshua  Jones,  "         from  1801  to  1821. 

John  Onderdonk,!  "         from  1801  to  1832. 

William  Bayard,  "         from  1S01  to  1821. 

John  McVickar,  "         from  1801  to  1812. 

James  Clark,  "         from  1802  to  1808. 

RufusKing,§  Warden  from  1805  to  1812. 

Thomas  Farmer,  Vestryman  in  1806. 

Wynant  Van  Zandt,  jr.,||  Vestryman  from  1806  to  1811. 

Thomas  L.  Ogden,1T  Vestryman  from  1807  to  1839.  Warden  from 
1839  to  1844. 

Nehemiah  Rogers,  Vestryman  from  1807  to  1816.  Warden  from 
1816  to  1842. 

*  Member  of  the  Legislature  from  this  city. 

+  Printer  and  Bookseller  of  this  city,  respected  in  his  own  day  and  remembered 
with  honour  in  this. 

t  President  of  the  Medical  Society. 

§  Member  of  the  old  Congress  and  of  the  Legislature  of  New -York — three  times 
elected  Senator  of  the  United  States — Minister  to  England  under  General  Wash- 
ington, and  again  under  John  Quincy  Adams. 

||  Alderman  for  many  years  of  the  First  Ward. 

V  An  eminent  Chamber  Counsellor,  a  prominent  member  of  many  of  our  literary 
and  ecclesiastical  institutions,  and  an  able  and  judicious  delegate  for  a  long  course 
of  years  both  in  the  local  and  General  Councils  of  the  Church. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  363 

John  Lagear,  Vestryman  from  1808  to  1811. 

Garrit  H.  Van  Wagenen,  Vestryman  from  1808  to  1812. 

Andrew  Raymond,  "  from  1808  to  1818. 

Peter  A.  Jay,  L.  L.  D.,*  "  from  1811  to  1816,  and  again 

from  1842  to  1844. 

William  Newton,  Vestryman  in  1811. 

Anthony  L.  Underhill,  "  from  1811  to  1825,  and  from  1826 
to  1846. 

Edward  W.  Laight,  Vestryman  from  1811  to  1812,  and  again  from 
1818  to  1845.     Warden  from  1845  to  1846. 

William   Hill,        Vestryman  from  1812  to  1818. 

Francis  B.  Winthrop,      "         from  1812  to  1818'. 

Jacob  Sherred,f  "         from  1812  to  1821. 

Peter  Mackie,  "         from  1812  to  1823. 

Edward  Dunscomb,  ^      "         from  1812  to  1814. 

Charles  Ludlow,  "         from  1812  to  1815. 

Thomas  Skinner,  "         from  1812  to  1816. 

James  Bleecker,  "         from  1814  to  1842. 

William  Moore,  §  "         from  1814  to  1824.' 

Teunis  Quick,  "         from  1815  to  1846. 

Henry  McFarlan,  "         from  1815  to  1831. 

Jonathan  Ogden,  "         from  1816  to  1833. 

Jonathan  H.Lawrence,  ||    "       from  1817  to  1845. 

Thomas  Swords,  "       from  1817  to  1843. 

Cornelius  R.  Duffie,H         "       from  1817  to  1823. 

Edward  N.  Cox,  "       from  1818  to  1822. 

Peter  A.  Mesier,  "       from  1818  to  1846. 

*  Recorder  of  the  City  for  several  years,  a  distinguished  counsellor,  President  of 
the  New-York  Hospital,  and  filling  with  credit  many  other  honourable  and  public 
stations. 

t  A  noble  Benefactor  of  the  General  Theological  Seminary,  to  which  lie  be- 
queathed about  $60,000,  the  half  of  his  fortune. 

I  A  Revolutionary  officer,  Sheriff  of  this  City,  and  repeatedly  a  member  of  the 
Legislature. 

§  A  distinguished  Physician,  and  Professor  in  the  Medical  Faculty  of  Columbia 
College. 

||  A  Revolutionary  officer ;  in  after  life  a  man  of  business  and  an  accomplished 
merchant,  and  for  many  years  President  of  the  Pacific  Insurance  Company, 
f  Afterwards  founder  and  Rector  of  St.  Thomas's  Church. 


364  HISTORY    OF 

Benjamin  W.  Rogers,  Vestryman  from  1821  to  1826. 

Gabriel  Furman,*  "  from  1821  to  1836. 

William  Johnson,  L.L.D.  "  from  1821  to  1846. 

Ezra  Weeks,  "  from  1822  to  1834. 

John  Watts,f  "  from  1822  to  1830. 

Charles  N.  S.  Rowland,    "  from  1823  to  1825. 

Robert  Thomas,  "  from  1823  to  1832. 

Beverly  Robinson,  "  from  1824  to  1827. 

John  T.  Irving,  t  "  from  l^25  to  1838« 

Charles  Graham,  "  from  1825  to  1826,  and  from  1832 

to  1838. 

Jacob  Lorillard,     Vestryman  from  1826  to  1839. 

George  Jones,  "  from  1827  to  1837. 

Philip  Hone,  "  from  1828  to  1846. 

William  E.  Dunscomb,     "  from  1830  to  1846. 

Benjamin  M.  Brown,        "  from  1831  to  1839. 

William  H.  Harison,         "  from  1833  to  1846. 

Adam  Tredwell,  ';  from  1833  to  1843.      Warden  from 

1843  to  1846. 
Robert   Hyslop,     Vestryman  from  1834  to  1846. 

Henry  Cotheal,  "  from  1837  to  1846. 

John  D.  Wolfe,  "       from  1837  to  1845. 

Thomas  W.Ludlow,  "  in  1838. 

Thomas  L.  Clarke,  "  from  1838  to  1846. 

William  Moore,  "       from  1839  to  1846. 

William  H.  Hobart,  "       from  1839  to  1846. 

Henry  Youngs,  "       from  1839  to  1846. 

Alexander  L.  McDonald,   "       from  1839  to  1846. 

Samuel  G.  Raymond,        "       from  1843  to  1846. 

John  Q.  Jones,  "       in  1843. 

Gulian  C.  Verplanck,       "       from  1844  to  1846. 

Philip  Henry,  "       from  1844  to  1846. 


*  Alderman  of  the  City,  member  of  the  Legislature,  and  President  for  many 
years  of  the  Mutual  Insurance  Company. 

t  President  of  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons. 

t  Member  of  the  Legislature  of  New-York,  for  many  years  First  Judge  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  the  City  of  New-York,  and  a  conspicuous  member  of 
various  literary  and  benevolent  institutions. 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  365 

John  I.  Morgan,  "       from  1845  to  1846. 

David  B.  Ogden,  "       from  1845  to  1846. 

Anthony  J.  Bleecker,        "       in  1846. 

Who  that  is  at  all  familiar  with  our  local  history  and  feels  any  in- 
terest in  it,  can  look  back  upon  the  names  of  these  respected  and  ve- 
nerated men,  without  a  feeling  of  reverence  for  that  ancient  Corpora- 
tion, whose  concerns  they  have  managed  with  so  much  prudence, 
whose  wealth  they  have  dispensed  with  so  much  liberality,  and  whose 
rights  and  privileges  they  have  at  all  times  so  conscientiously  and  man- 
fully defended  ?  Who  that  now  belongs  to  this  Parish,  or  who  that  was 
ever  connected  with  it,  can  help  feeling  some  honest  pride  in  being 
a  member  of  a  body  which  associates  him  with  those  who  in  past  ge- 
nerations adorned  the  age  in  which  they  lived,  and  with  those  who  in 
the  present  day  are  held  in  honour  and  respect? 

But  though  there  were  at  all  times  among  the  Wardens  and  Vestry- 
men of  Trinity  Church,  many  who  were  eminent  in  the  learned  pro- 
fessions, distinguished  as  scholars,  and  exalted  in  rank  and  station  ; 
yet  the  selection  was  by  no  means  confined  to  them,  but  extended  to 
persons  in  all  the  various  classes  and  callings  in  life.  There  was, 
however,  on  every  occasion,  an  uniform  reference  to  the  fitness,  intelli- 
gence, and  probity  of  those  who  were  chosen  for  the  discharge  of  these 
high  and  responsible  duties ;  and  I  doubt  whether  there  ever  was  a 
Corporation  in  this  or  any  other  country,  who  during  the  long  course 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  administered  their  affairs  with  stricter 
integrity,  or  who,  in  their  personal  characters,  were  more  free  from 
reproach. 


366  HISTORY  OF 

M. 

GRANTS,  GIFTS,  AND  LOANS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  history  of  this  Parish,  it  stood  in  need  of 
assistance  itself,  and  was,  therefore,  altogether  unable  to  attend  to  the 
wants  of  others.  The  first  instance  of  its  bounty  towards  a  neigh- 
bouring church,  recorded  in  the  minutes,  was  in  the  gift  of  the  com- 
munion cloth,  pulpit  cloth,  and  cloth  for  the  desk,  to  Mr.  Peter  Jay, 
for  the  church  at  Rye,  in  the  year  1745.  Since  that  time,  in  every 
alteration  and  improvement  of  Trinity  Church  and  its  Chapels,  its 
gifts  to  needy  congregations  of  articles  of  all  kinds  have  been  innu- 
merable ;  baptismal  fonts,  communion  plate,  chandeliers,  lustres, 
pulpits,  desks,  stoves,  bells,  iron  gates,  iron  railing  and  other  fences, 
flagging  stones,  carpets  for  chancel  and  aisles,  and  almost  every  thing 
which  can  enter  into  the  construction  and  serve  for  the  decoration  of 
the  Sanctuary.  These,  however,  though  a  seasonable  relief  to  parishes 
which  were  limited  in  their  resources,  are  scarcely  worthy  of  being 
noticed  in  connection  with  its  lavish  bounties  and  munificent  grants 
to  most  of  the  churches  throughout  the  State.  There  is  hardly  a  form 
in  which  their  liberality  could  promote  the  interests  of  religion,  that 
it  has  not  assumed.  "When  unable  to  contribute  largely,  they  did  it 
judiciously,  and  according  to  their  ability. 

Thus  we  find  at  a  time  *  when  infidelity  was  very  prevalent 
here,  that  200  copies  of  a  work  entitled  the  Antidote  to  Deism  were 
purchased  by  the  Vestry,  and  committed  to  the  Rector  and  Assistant 
Ministers  for  distribution,  and  shortly  after  500  copies  of  Watson's 
Apology. 

As  there  was  no  Bible  and  Common  Prayer  Book  Society  in  that 
day,  the  Vestry,  in  consideration  of  the  great  feebleness  and  urgent 
wants  of  the  Church,  in  some  slight  degree  anticipated  the  establish- 
ment of  such  an  institution. 

In  1797,  they  gave  to  the  committee  of  the  Convention  for  propa- 
gating the  Gospel  150  copies  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  and  100 
copies  to  Christ  Church,  Duanesburgh.      In  the  following  year  50 


*1797. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK. 


367 


copies  to  Christ  Church,  Ballston.  500  copies  were  afterwards  given 
to  the  Rector  for  distribution,  together  with  200  copies  of  Hobart's 
Companion  (or  the  Altar.  And  in  1807,  200  copies  of  Fowler's  Ex- 
position  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer.  On  another  occasion  an 
appropriation  was  made  of  £100,  which  the  Rector  was  to  expend  in 
Prayer  Books. 

The  Vestry  also  committed  to  the  Rector,  for  the  promotion  of  reli- 
gion upon  the  frontiers  of  this  State,  £150,  $375 
In  1799,  They  gave  to  the  Committee   for  the    Propagation   of  the 

Gospel,  $412 

1805,       do  do  do         250 

1807,       do  do  do         250 

At  one  time  they  appropriated  £200  towards  furnishing  land 
for  a  Negro  Burial-Ground,  $500 

And  at  another,  they  entrusted  to  Mr.  Ellison  <£100  for  defend- 
ing the  rights  of  the  Church  at  Johnstown,       '  $250 


Grants  for  General  and  Public  purposes. 

1786,  3  lots  of  ground  for  the  use  of  the  Senior  Pastors  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Congregations  in  this  City.* 

1765,  An  order  was  passed  relative  to  the  establishing  a  ferry  from 
Roosevelt's  Dock  to  Paulus  Hook,  with  conveyances  of  2  lots 
to  the  Corporation  for  the  purpose. f 


*  Lots  No.  255,  256,  and  257  of  the  Church  Estate,  in  Robinson-street,  now 
Park  Place. 

t  It  being  represented  to  the  Board,  that  Alderman  Roosevelt  intended  to  pro- 
pose to  the  corporation  of  the  City  of  New-York  to  grant  and  convey  to  them  two 
water  lots  belonging  to  him,  adjoining  the  water  lots  of  this  corporation,  upon  con- 
dition that  the  ferry  across  Hudson  River  between  this  City  and  Powles  Hook 
should  be  established  and  fixed  from  his  said  lots,  but  inasmuch  as  the  said  two 
lots  will  not  be  sufficient  to  accommodate  the  said  ferry  without  the  addition  of  so 
much  of  the  water  lots  belonging  to  this  corporation  adjoining  the  said  two  lots  and 
of  equal  dimensions  therewith,  and  this  Board  considering  the  conveniences  and 
advantage  arising  to  the  public  from  the  said  ferry,  Thereupon  Resolved,  That 
they  will  also  grant  and  convey  to  the  said  City  corporation  two  of  their  lots  ad- 
joining the  said  two  water  lots  of  Alderman  Roosevelt,  and  of  equal  dimensions, 
for  the  use  of  the  said  ferry,  but  for  no  other  use  or  purpose  whatsoever,  upon 
condition  that  the  said  ferry  is  to  be  established  and  fixed  there  forever ;  but  if  the 


368  HISTORY    OF 

1771,    Contribution  towards  building  a  market  on  Hudson's 

river,*         -■» 
1775,    Appropriation  of  two  lots  on  the  North  side  of  Vesey 

street  for  a  pier  and  slip. 
1800,    Towards  building  a- market  in  Brannon-street,  $250 

Land  appropriated  for  the  same  purpose  in  Duane -street. 

And  also  for  a  Market  in  Christopher-street,  between  Greenwich 

and  Washington  streets. 
1810,    2  lots  of  ground  for  a  free  school,  in  Hudson-street. 
1815,    A  further  grant  of  lots  of  ground  for  the  Free  School  Society. 


Donations  and  allowances  to  aged  and  infirm  Clergymen,  and  to  others, 
whose  incomes  were  inadequate  to  their  support. 

1795,  The  Rev.  George  H.  Speerin,  -         -         .,         $375 

1796,  Rev.  Wm.  Hammel,  paralyzed  at  an  early  period  in  his  min- 
istry and  rendered  incapable  of  self-support,  who  received  an 
allowance  of  £100  per  annum  for  30  years,         -     $7500 

1796,    The  Rev.  Dr.  Dibble, 375 

1798,  do  do  .....         150 

1799,  do  do 100 

1796,  The  Rev.  Wm.  Ayres,  $175  per  annum  for  3  years,  562  50 
An  additional  allowance  of  £25,  -  -  -  62  50 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Bowden, 500 

1797,  Mr.  A.  Lile, 185 


said  ferry  shall  be  removed  from  thence,  that  then  the  said  two  water  lots  so 
granted  by  this  corporation  for  the  use  aforesaid,  shall  again  revert  and  be  in  this 
corporation. 

*  Whereas,  The  Oswego  Market,  now  standing  in  the  Broadway,  is  ordered  to 
be  removed,  and  it  is  proposed  that  a  new  one  be  erected  on  part  of  the  lands  upon 
Hudson's  River  belonging  to  this  corporation,  for  which  purpose  a  subscription 
paper  has  been  exhibited  as  well  by  a  number  of  the  Church  Tenants  as  others 
northward  of  Partition  street,  who  have  engaged  to  raise  about  three  hundred 
Pounds  towards  erecting  the  said  Market ;  Thereupon  it  is  resolved  and  agreed, 
that  this  corporation  will  also  contribute  the  sum  of  two  hundred  Pounds  towards 
building  the  said  Market,  and  will  release  their  right  and  claim  to  the  ground  on 
which  the  same  is  proposed  to  be  built  for  the  use  of  a  Market  forever,  upon 
condition  that  the  Mayor,  Alderman,  and  Commonalty  of  this  City  will  grant  and 
confirm  to  them  the  water  lots  agreeable  to  the  prayer  of  the  petition  now  before 
the  said  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  for  that  purpose. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  369 

1801,    Rev.  Daniel  Nash, $250 

1806,         do       do 250 

1812,        do       do 400 

1814,        do       do 250 

1801,  Rev.  R.  G.  Whitmore, 250 

do          do                200 

Rev.  Henry  Van  Dyke, 150 

1802,  do             do 250 

1803,  do             do                250 

1804,  do             do 125 

do             do 250 

1801,    The  Rev.  Philander  Chase,  (now  Bishop  of  Illinois,)  250 

1803,  The  Rev.  Peter  A.  Albert,         ...  *      -         -  250 

1804,  do           do 250 

1805,  do           do              ......  250 

1806,  do           do        ......  250 

1803,  The  Rev.  Edmund  D.  Barry,     ....  250 

1804,  do                   do                  .....  250 

1805,  do                   do              ......  250 

1806,  do                   do                  250 

1807,  do                   do              ...         w         .  250 

1809,  Rev.  John  Reed, 200 

1810,  Rev.  William  Harris,  Rector  of  St.  Mark's  Church,  500 

do              do 500 

Rev.  Wm.  Smith,  D.D.,             -         -         -         -  500 

1811,  Rev.  Elias  Coo}   r,  Yonkers,          ....  250 

1812,  do             do             .....  250 

1813,  do             do 250 

1812,  Rev.  William  Powell,  of  Coldenham,           -         -  250 

1813,  do           do                  do               ....  250 

1812,  Rev.  Cyrus  Stebbins, 250 

1813,  do          do 300 

do          do              250 

1814,  do           do                   250 

1812,    Joseph  Perry, 250 

do         do 200 

Rev.  Jonathan  Judd,          ....         -  250 

Rev.  John  Brady, 125 


370  HISTORY   OF 

1812,  Rev.  Asa  Cornwall,           -         -         -         -         -100 
Rev.  Ralph  Williston, 250 

1813  to  1816,  inclusive,  Rev.  R.  Williston,  $500  per  ann.,    2000 

1813,  Mr.  Prentiss, 500 

David  Butler,  -         -         -         -  -         150 

1814,  do       do -         -     250 

1813,  Rev.  N.  B.  Burgess,  Clergyman  at  Setauket,         -         250 

1814,  do  do  250 

Rev.  John  Urquhart,          .....         150 
Rev.  H.  I.  Feltus,         i 250 

1826,    Bishop  Croes,      - 250 

1832,    Rev.  Moses  Burt,     -         -         -         -         -         -         150 

1834,  Rev.  Wm.  R.  Whittingham  $500  on  two  occasions,  being 
spontaneous  gifts  of  the  Vestry  to  him,  on  his  going  to  Europe 
for  the  recovery  of  his  health,*  -         -         -     $1000 

1835,  Rev.  Eleazer  Williams, 250 

Rev.Dr.  Hawks,  as  an  agent  of  the  General  Convention  to  collect 
materials  in  England  for  the  history  of  the  Church,  $1500 

1835  to  1846,  Rev.  Dr.  Rudd,  a  faithful  and  valued  servant  of  the 
Church,  an  annuity  of  $250,       -      '  -         -         -     $2750 

1838,    Rev.  G.  Mills, 250 

Rev.  Dr.  Seabury,  for  his  highly  acceptable   services  in  the 
Parish  during  a  vacancy,  (in  addition  to  his  salary,)  $1000 

1843 — 1847,  Donations  at  different  times  to  the  Rector  of  Christ's 
Church, $1000 

1846,    Rev.  John  Grigg, 300 


Annuities  to  those  who  had  in  a  great  measure  spent  their  lives  in  the 
Parish,  and  retired  from  infirmity  and  old  age. 

Annuity  of  £400  to  Bishop  Provoost  from  1801  to  1816,  $15,000 

of  £500  to  Bishop  Moore  from  1811  to  1816,  6,250 

of  £600  to  Dr.  Beach  from  1813  to  1829,  24,000 

And  to  the  families  of  those  who  had  died  in  its  service,  36,900 


*  Five  hundred  of  which  being  unexpended  on  his  return,  he,  -with  characteristic 
disinterestedness,  sent  back  to  the  Vestry,  which  they  as  generously  declined. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK. 


371 


Gifts  to  officers  of  the  Church,  tyc,  <SfC.,for  their  faithful  services  in 
addition  to  their  salary. 

1837  To  N.  Andrews,  porter  of  the  Vestry  office,      -  $150 

1838  do  do       -  200 

1839  To  the  Collector,  ....  200 

1840  do  do  -----  -       200 

1841  do  do      -  -  -  -  -     -        200 

1839  Peter  Erben,  organist,         .  -  -  -       300 

1839  R.  Slack,  Sexton,  '-  -  -  -  150 

1841  To  the  widow  of  R.  Slack,   -  --  -  -      250 

To  a  labourer  at  Trinity  Church  who  had  broken  his  arm,  50 


King's,  ?:ow  Columbia  College. 
1752  Grant  of  land  in  the  centre  of  the  city  between  Murray 
and  Barclay  streets,  and  extending  from  Church-street  to 
the  river,*  the  present  value  of  which  is  perhaps    $400,000 

Grants  and  gifts  to  Institutions  for  the  promotion  of  Religion  and 
Learning. 

CHAKITY"    SCHOOL. 

In  the  early  history  of  the  School  occasional  gratui- 
ties were  made  to  it  by  Trinity  Church,  towards 
the  support  of  the  schoolmasters.  -  -  .  - 
In  1748  ground  was  given  for  the  site  of  the  school, 
and  the  deficiencies  in  the  subscriptions  for  the 
building  of  a  school-house  made  up  by  the  Vestry. 
In  1748  for  the  re-building  of  the  same  after  it  was 

burnt, 1,000 

1800  A  debt  assigned  to  it  of  -  -  -      5,276  87  1-2 

Seven  lots  of  land  bounded  by  Lumber,  Rector 
and  Greenwich  streets,  worth  at  present  not 
less  than  ....  35,000 

Donation  of    -  -  -  -  -       1,000 


*  A  great  portion  of  this  however,  being  used  for  mere  college  purposes  and  the 
residue  having  been  for  the  most  part  leased  out  on  comparatively  low  rents  by  the 
State  when  it  took  charge  of  the  College  immediately  after  the  revolution  ;  the 
income  of  the  property  bears  no  kind  of  proportion  to  its  value,  and  is  entirely  inade- 
quate to  the  support  of  the  institution. 


372  HISTORY    OF 

1800  Donation   of  -  -  -  7,500 

1808  "of  ....         1000 


50,776  87  1-2 
1832  Grant  of  5  lots  on  Canal,  Varick  and  Grand  streets  at  a  mere 
nominal  rent. 

Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Religion  and  Learning. 
1802    .......     $1,000 

8,500 
32  lots  of  land  in  Barclay,  Warren,  Greenwich,  Hud- 
son,  Beach  and  North  Moore  streets,  worth  at  the 
present  time,  perhaps,     ....  120,000 


129,500 

Rent  paid  for  the  African   Catechetical  Institute. 

$262 
1808  Appropriation  towards  the  same.  -  -  3,000 

1819  to  1826,  Ground  rent  assumed  by  the  Vestry,  at 

$330  per  year,  -  -  -  -2210 

Additional  sum  guaranteed  to  it  of  -  2500 


7972 


General  Theological  Seminary. 
1825  or  1826,  Appropriation  towards  the  building         ,-       $1,000 
$3393  17,  the  amount  received  under  God- 
frey Coon's  Will  paid  to  the  Seminary 
and  $750  interest,  -  -  4,143  17 

1835,  Grant  towards  its  library  of         J  .  .       4,000 


9143  17 


Education  and  Missionary  Society. 
1833,    Missionary  branch  .... 

Ann.  allowance  of  $600  from  Dec.  1839  to  1843,       2,400 
1844,    Missionary  fund  of  the  Diocese.  -  -  250 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  373 

1842,  Education  Branch  -  -  -  .600 

1843,  ......  600 


4150 
Washington  College — Hartford,  Connecticut. 
1833  -  ....       5000 

Episcopal  Fund  of  the  Diocese. 
1836,  ......       $30,000 

1838,    House  for  the  Episcopal  residence  -  20,000 

An  allowance  to  the  Bishop  of  $1600  from  1839  to 

1843.  -  .  -  -  6,400 

Donations  of  $1200  on  two  occasions         -  2,400 


58,800 


City  Mission  Society. 

1832,  Ann.  allowance  of  $600  from  1832  to  1834  -     $1,200 

1834  to  1837,     do                     of  $1100         -              -  3,300 

1837  to  1846,     do                     of  $1800              •-  -     12,600 

1845,  Donation       .....  600 

1847,         do     -             -             -             ...  -       1,200 


18,900 


St.  Mark's  Church,  New-York. 

1795 $12,500 

1798  .....  *  5,088  81  1-4 

181  87 
500 
Two  annual  donations  to  the  Rectorj-  1,000 

To  which  sums  the  following  endowment  in  land  on 
the  Church  farm  was  added, 
5  lots  in  Warren  street, 


*  There  are  no  means  of  ascertaining,  from  the  minutes  of  the  Vestry,  whether 
this  was  an  additional  grant,  or  a  part  of  the  former  one. 
\  Noticed  before,  under  another  head. 


374 


4 

HISTORY    OF 

1 

in  Church-street, 

9 

in  Reade        " 

3 

in  Harison      " 

6 

in  North  Moore  street 

6 

in  Provoost             " 

30    Worth  probably  at  the  present  time  not  less  than  131,500 


8150,770  681-4 


Grace  Church,  New-York. 

1804,  -  $3,750 

1,000 
-     15,000 

1805,  ......  1,500 

1810,  For  the  organ  -  5,000 

1811,  Assignment  of  a  mortgage  for  •  -  7,320  50 
Grace  Church  was  also  built  at  the  expense  of  this  Cor- 
poration, for  which  the  latter  received  no  reimbursement 

except  in  the  sum  arising  out  of  the  sales  of  pews,  amount- 
ing to  $30,000 

In  return  for  this,  Trinity  church  made   a  still  further 
grant  to  Grace  Church  of  several  lots  of  land. 
7  of  which  were  on  Rector  street, 

2  on  Vesey       " 

3  on  Barclay  " 
2  on  Warren  " 
5                            on  Chambers  " 

2  on  Church      "     and 

4  on  Read  " 

25  in  all. 
In  referring  to  the  minutes  of  the  Vestry  for  the  prices  at  which  lots 
sold  in  1810,  the  twelve  of  these  which  were  on  Chambers,  Warren, 
Barclay  and  Vesey  streets,  were  worth  $40,000  at  the  time,  and  the 
thirteen  on  Rector,  Church,  and  Reade  streets  at  least  $26,000.  The 
value  of  the  whole  number  at  the  present  time  cannot  be  less  than 

$120  000. 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  375 

St.  George's  Church,  New-York. 
1812  &  1813,  Grant  of  the  following  lots  of  land  : 

8  on  Reade-street  and  Church-street, 
4  on  Greenwich-street, 

6  on  Murray  " 

9  on  Chambers         " 
4  on  Warren  " 

1  on  Barclay  "         and 

1  on  Beekman  " 

33  in  all,  the  present  value  of  which  cannot  be  less  than  $170,000  00 
Further  grants  for  communion  plate,  iron  railing,  &c,       5,104  62 

14,000  00 
184  25 

30,946  83 


$220,235  70 


Grants,  Donations  and  Loans  to  other  Churches. 

1795,  St.  Peter's,  Westchester  -  -  ■         $750 

1796,  do  do    -  -  -  -  500 
1809,  5  lots  of  ground  on  Reade,  Chambers  and  Warren 

street.     The  present  value  of  which  is  about  -      22,500 


24,750 

1796,  Christ  Church,  Hudson,  Columbia  Co.           ■  2,000 

J  802,             do                          do  1,500 

1796,  St.  Peter's,  Albany               -             -             -  6,250 
1801,            do           do  300 

1797,  St.  George's,  Flushing,  L.  I.             -             -  1,250 
1820,           do                  do       ...  1,000 
1809,  3  lots  of  ground,  in  Wan-en-street  and  2  in  Cham- 
bers-street, worth  about               -              -              -  19,500 


21,750 
1797,  Grace,  Jamaica,  L.  I.  -  -  -  -         1,250 

1809,  3  lots  in  Lumber  st.  and  1  in  Reade  St.,  worth  per- 
haps at  present  about     -  -  -  -  18,500 


376  HISTORY    OF 

1820,  ......  1,000 


20,750 
1792,  St.  James's,  Newtown,  L.  I.  -  -  1,250 

1809,  1  lot  in  Reade  st.,  1  in  Greenwich  st.,  and  2  in 

Lumber  st.,  worth  perhaps  at  present  about  -  -       20,000 


21,250 
1797,  St.  Anne's,  Brooklyn,  L.  I.  -  -  -  1,000 

1804,  do  do  ...  2,000 

1809,  Two  lots  of  ground  in  Chamber  st.,  worth  perhaps 

at  present  about  ....  13,000 


16,000 

1798,  Christ  Church,  Poughkeepsie     -             -             -  1,250 

1810,         do                 annual  allowance  of  $250  for  5  years  1,250 

1813,         do                         do                 for  the  Rector  250 

1797,  Trinity  Church,  New  Rochelle  -             -             -  1,250 

Trinity      do       Fishkill  Village,      :             -  1,000 

1813,  ......  500 

For  the  Rector           -             -             •             -  250 

St.  Philips  Church,  in  the  Highlands     -              -  750 

1797,  St.  Peter's        do        Peekskill         -             -  750 

1797,  St.  James's      do         Goshen     -              -              -  1,250 

1814,  do  do  do  -  -  -  625 
1833,  do  do  do  -  -  ■  1,500 
1797,  To  the  Church  at  New  Stamford  -  -  500 
1802,  St.  Peter's  do  Stamford  -  -  200 
1808,  St.  John's  do  Stamford,  Conn.  -  300 
1797,  To  the  Church  at  Salem  or  Campden  -  -  500 
1797,  Constantia,  Lake  Oneida  -  -  -  625 
1830,  do  do  -  .  -  -  500 
1797,  To  the  Church  at  Ballston  -  .  -  625 
1797,  do  do  Duanesburgh  -  -  750 
1804,  do             do                  do  1,000 

1806,  do             do                  do  500 

1807,  do  do  do  -  '  -  -  250 
1800,  To  the  Church  on  Staten  Island,  north  side         -  1,000 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  377 

1802,  St.  Andrew's,  Statcn  Island  -  -  -  L000 

1800,  For  parsonage  at  Yonkers  -  -  -  TOO 

1801,  do  do  200 
1800,  For  parsonage  at  Rye,  .....  y.y) 
1813,    Christ  Church  at  Rye, 5  | ) 

St.  James's,  Milton,  Saratoga  Co.,  -         -  -     248  80 

For  the  Rector, 150 

1802,  Church  at  Burlington,  -         -  '       -         .  -       60 
Church  at  Otsego,             .....  60 

1803,  St.  Luke's,  Catskill,      -         -'.  •     -         ...  -  2000 

1804,  do  do  1300 

1811,  do  do  ......  2800 

1804,    St.  George's,  Schenectady,         -         -         -'  1000 

1808,  do  do  ..."  '   .     300 

1809,  do  do  ....  300 
1804,    Church  at  Phillipsburgh, 300 

Churches  at  Lansingburgh  and  Waterford,  -       2"  00 

St.  Paul's  Church  at  Troy,  .....  £000 
Church  at  North-Hempstead,  ....  2000 
Churches  at  Bedford  and  New-Castle,  -         -       1000 

1808,         do  do  do  l'O 

1804,  St.  Paul's,  Charlton,  .'....  1000 
1836,        do  do 100 

1805,  St.  Stephen's,  New- York,  --  -  -  -  •  300 
1807,    2  lots  in  Warren-street,  to  do.  worth  at  present  about  13,000 

Bonds  granted  to  the  same  amounting  to      -         -  7194  50 

1813,    Donation  of 250 

do         to  the  Rector               -         -         -         -  2C0 

1829,    Annual  allowance  of  $600,  from  Nov.   1,   1828,  to  Nov.   1, 

1842,                J        ; 8400 

Donation               -         -         -         -         -         -  -   1~00 

1831,           do              500 

1842  to  1846,  Annual  allowance  of  $300  -  -  -  1200 
1846,    Ann.  allowance  increased  to  $500  from  Nov.  1. 


32,594  50 

1806,    Christ  Church,  Cooperstown,  (on  conditions  which  it  is  pre- 
sumed were  fulfilled  )         1500 

24 


378  HISTORY    OF 

1806,  St.  John's,  Huntington,  L.  L,         -         -         .         -     300 

1807,  do  do  do  ...         250 


1807,    St.  Michael's,  Bloomingdale,  N.   Y.,  a  donation  towards  the 

building  of 2000 

1809  to  1813,  Revenue  for  St.  Michael's  and  St.  James'  of 

$500  per  annum,  ......  2000 

1809,    Grant  of  6  lots  of  ground  to  do.  in  Chambers,  Vesey, 

and  Warren  streets,  worth  perhaps  at  present,       -    39,000 
1809,    St.  James',  Hamilton  Square,  N.  Y.,  a  donation  to- 
wards the  building  of  3000 

1813,    To  satisfy  existing  debts, 800 

Grant  of  4  lots  of  ground  to  do.  in  Chambers  and 
Barclay  streets,  worth  perhaps     ....  26,000 
To  these  two  Churches  respectively,  if  they  continued 
connected,  a  donation  of  $700  each,  -         -         1400 

In  June,  1825,  by  resolution,  the  allowance  to  these  churches 
was  restricted  to  the  difference  between  $1700  and  the 
aggregate  amount  of  rents  then  payable,  or  thereafter  on 
any  renewals  of  the  leases  payable  on  these  10  lots 
granted  ;  and  as  soon  as  the  rents  should  in  the  aggregate 
amount  to  $1700,  the  annual  allowance  was  to  be  wholly 
discontinued.  From  1826  the  allowance  was  gradually  re- 
duced to  about  $150  per  annum,  and  entirely  ceased  in  1832     900 


75,100 
1805,    Christ   Church,   New- York,   4  lots   in  Barclay-street,   worth 
at  present  about         ......    24,000 

Communion  plate,  worth  perhaps  -         -         -     100 

1809,    $500  per  ami.  to  the  Rector,     ....     18,500 

1813,  $250  towards  the  support  of  the  Rector,  -         -     250 

1814,  $250  do  do  do  -         -         250 
1827  to  1835,  Ann.  allowance  to  Christ  Church  of  $600,      4,800 

1835,    Grant  of 25,000 

1846,    Allowance  to  Assistant  Minister,  ...       300 

1843  to  1847,    Donations  to  the  Rector,*    -         -         -  1000 


$74,200 


*  Noticed  before,  under  another  head. 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK. 


379 


1807,    Caroline  Church,  Setauket,        ....  800 

Islip,            -         -         -.-         -'        -         -         -     500 
Trinity,  Utica, 2000 

1809,    3    lots   of  ground   to  do.  in  Reade-strcet  and  one  in  Clark, 
present  value  about  ...         -         -      12,500 

1807,    To  the  Church  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,     -         -         -  1000 
Trinity,  Geneva, 1500 

1813,         do  do       for  the  Rector,     -         -         -         -     250 

1807,  St.  Peter's  and  St.  Philip's,         -         -         -         -  '     1250 

1808,  Expense  of  the  printing  of  the  proceedings  of  the  General 
Convention,* 304  21 

1809,  St.  John's,  Johnstown, 400 

1810,  Trinity,  Newark,  N.  J. 1000 

1811,  Zion  Church,  N.  Y.,  $900  per  annum  granted  to  it  for  5 


years, 


1811, 

do 

do 

1815, 

do 

do 

1820, 

do 

do 

1831, 

do 

do 

1836, 

do 

do 

1846, 

do 

do 

. 4500 

-         -     720 

5000 

• 20000 

8000 

. 1000 

ann.  all.  of  $300  from  May  1st,        -       150 


'  39,370 

1811,    Trinity,  Fairfield, 500 

1813,        do  do         ann.  all.  for  7  years  of  $250,         1750 

do  do  do  do  for  the  Rector,        1750 

do  do  do  do  further  sum  of  250,  1750 

1811,  Caroline  Church,  Brookhaven,  ...  -  500 
And  an  annual  allowance  for  2  years  of  $125,      -         250 

1812,  To  the  Church  at  Hamilton,  St.  Lawrence  Co.,        -  3000 
1812  to  1846,  St.  James,  Hyde  Park,  ann.  all.  of  $250,  8500 

1813,  St.  James,  North  Salem,  ...  -  1000 
Trinity  Church*  Rensselaerville,  for  the  Rector,  -  250 
Christ  Church,  Hampton,  for  the  Rector,  -  -  150 
St.  Paul's,  Paris,  for  the  Rector,  -  250 
St.  Peter's,  Aurelius,  for  the  Rector,             -         -         250 


»  For  many  years  the  expense  of  printing  the  Journal  and  other  documents  of 
both  the  General  and  State  Conventions  was  defrayed  by  Trinity  Church. 


380  HISTORY    OF 

1818,    Trinity,  Athens, 3000 

St.  Matthew's,  Unadilla,              ....        1400 
Christ  Church,  Manlius, 1000 

1818,  St.  George's,  Newburgh,  .....       3000 

1819,  St.  John's,  Canandaigua, 1500 

To  the  Church  at  Windham,      ....         500 

1830,    Du  St.  Esprit,  ann.  all.  of  $250,  from  1830  to  1843,  3250 


1830  to  1846,  St.  Andrew's,  Harlaem,  $300  per  annum,         4800 
1832,         do  do         grant  of  ...  4000 

18'0;         do  do  do  ...         100 


8.900 
1831,    St.  Clement's,  arm.  all.  of  $600  from  Nov.  1,  1830,  to  Nov.  1, 

1842, 7200 

183",         do      do       grant  of 15000 

1844,         do       do       the  old  Organ  of  St.  John's,  N.  Y.,  given  to  it 
1342,         do       do       ann.  all.  of  $400  from  1842  to  1846,      1600 


23,800 


1810     St.  Luke's,  New- York,  3  lots  in  Hudson-street — 

1827,         do  2  lots  adjoining — and 

IS  !i,         do             3  lots  more,  present  value  at  least  30000 

13:20          do                 - 5000 

1327  to  1831,  Annual  allowance  of  $400,          -         -  -1600 

1831  to  1842,       do             do         increased  to  $600,       -  6600 

183  3,    Grant  of 10000 

1812  to  1346,  Ann.  allowance   reduced  to  $400,         -  1600 

1813  to  1847,       do             do         increased  to  $300,  -     500 
1813,    Donation, 1500 


$53,800 
13  27  to  1842,  St.  Mary's,  Manhattanville,  ann.  all.  of  $300,  4o00 
1842  to  1845,  Ann.  all.  reduced  to  $200,  -  -  -  600 
1833,    --.- 1269   13 


$3389  13 
13:27,    St.  Thomas,  New- York,  ann.  all.  of  $300  from  May  1,  1828, 
to  Dec.  12,  1842, $8100 


TRINITY    CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  381 

1828,  do  gift  of  -  -  -  ::000 
1831,  do  grant  of  -  -  -.  -  20000 
1842,  Ann.  all.  of  300  from  Dec.  12,  1842,  to  same  date  1840  If  00 

$3-2,:  00 
1S27,    All  Saints,  N.  Y.,  ann.  all.  of  $000  from  July  30    IS  7   to 
Dec.  12,  1842, S00O 

1829,  do  loan  of '     -  8000 

1831,.        do  donation  of       -         -         -         -         -       'r  000 

1838,  do  grant  of C000 

1839,  do  additional  grant  of  -  -  -  -  S000 
1842,  do  ann.  all.  of  $300  to  May,  1S45,  -  -  -7.r0 
1845,  do  do      of  $300,  from  May,  1,  1845,  to 

Nov.  1,  1846,       -         -         -,       -         -         -         -     7.-0 


$31  500 
1829  to  1842,  Church  of  the  Ascension,  N.  Y.,  $600  per  ann.  7  BOO 

1842  to  1846,  $300  per  annum,     -----        1200 
1835,    1  lot  in  Vesey-street,  worth  about         -         -         -     0500 

$15,500 

1835,    St.  Philip's  Church,  New-York,         -      *.  -  9000 

1838,         do  do,  -         -  -     2000 

1826  to  1S43,  annual  ground  rent  of  $330  paid  by  Trinity,    5610 
1843,    Annual  allowance  of  $300,  r         301) 

1843  to  1846,  Annual  allowance  of  $400,  -         -         -1200 

$18  110 

1831,    St.  John's,  Delhi,                 -          -          -          -          -  950 

1S32,    St.  Peter's,  Greenwich,  donation  of                  -  -   1000 

Annual  all.  of  $300,  from  Feb.  4,  1S32,  to  1*834.  6<  0 

1833,  Donation  of 1   0) 

1834,  Aug.  4,  ann.  all.  of  $300,  from  1S34  to  1S42,  -  48  0 

1837,    Grant  of 2fO(H) 

1842,    Annual  allowance  of  $C00  from  1S42  to  1S40,  -  2000 


$34  4  n 

1832,  St.  Peter's,  Auburn,         -----         2S0J 
St.  Luke's,  Rochester,  $300  per  ann.  for  2  years,        I    00 

1833,  St.  John's,  Brooklyn,  grant  of        -         -         -         -4000 


382 


HISTORY    OF 


1833,  Christ  Church,  Ballston,  ....  500 
St.  Paul's,  Albany,  grant  of            -  5000 

Trinity,  Ulster, 1000 

St.  John's,  Angelica,  Alleghany  county,            -         -  800 

St.  John's,  Monticello, 1500 

St.  Andrew's,  Walden, 600 

St.  Mark's,  Hunt's  Hollow,        ....  500 

St.  John's,  Sheldon,  donation  of               ...  300 

Trinity,  Watertown,  grant  of               ...  1000 

1834,  do  do  do 500 

1833,  St.  John's,  Medina, 1000 

St.  Paul's,  Musquito  Cove,  L.  I.,             ...  500 

1834,  Calvary,  Cairo,  Greene  co.,  ....  500 
St.  Mark's,  Le  Roy,  Genessee  co.,  ...  500 
Trinity,  Constantia,  Oswego  co.,  ...  500 
Trinity,  Hector, 200 

1833,  St.  Paul's,  Syracuse,          *  1000 

1834,  do               do 800 

Grace,  Rochester,              3500 

St.  John's,  Sodus,  Wayne  co.,         ....  450 

St.  Peter's,  Westfield,  Chatauque  co.,           -         -  320 

St.  Anne's,  Fishkill  Landing,         ....  500 

1837,  do               do             do  250 

1838,  do  do  do  ....  500 
1834,    Christ  Church,  Gilbertsville,  Otsego  co.,               -  400 

Trinity  Church,  Elmira,  Chemung  county,       -         -  500 

1836,         ,     do                 do                      do               -  300 

1834,    Zion  Church,  Greene,  Chenango  co.,      -         -         -  500 

Grace  Church,  Mount  Upton,  Livingston  co.,        -  250 

Trinity  Church,  Seneca  Falls,  Seneca  co.,       -         -  500 

1836,  do  do  do  -  500 
1834,  Christ  Church,  Sherburne,  Chenango  co.,  -  -  500 
1833,    St.  John's,  Kingston,  Ulster  co.,          -        -         -  1000 

1837,  do               do                do  500 

1839,  do  do  do  200 
1833,    Zion  Church,  Greene,  Wayne   co.,         ...  500 

Emmanuel  Church,  Norwich,  Chenango  co.,        -  500 

1836,                      do                  do                 do                -         -  250 

1833,    Grace  Church,  Whiteplains,  Westchester  co.,      -  750 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK. 


383 


1833,  St.  Mathew's,  Jersey  City,  N.  J.,            -         -  -  1000 

1834,  St.  Paul's,  Turin, 600 

Church  of  the  Nativity,  N.  Y.,       -         -         -  -  4000 

1835,  do                do                     ....  1000 
Annual  allowance  of  $300  for  about  10  years,  -  3000 

1838, 

1846, 


1000 
300 


$9,300 


Annual  allowance  increased  $100  from  Nov.  1. 

1835,  Zion  Church,  Wappinger's  Creek,  Dutchess  co.,  500 

1836,  do                          do                          do  -         250 
1835,    Emmanuel  Church,  Little  Falls,  Herkimer  co.  -  1500 

St.  John's,  Cohoes,  Albany  co.,           -         -  -         500 

St.  Mark's,  Jamesville,  Onondaga  co.,    -         -  -     400 

1834,  Christ  Church,  Guilford,  Chenango  co.,  -  -  500 
Zion  Church,  Rome,  Oneida  co.,  -  -  -  500 
St.  James,  Catlin,  Tioga  co.,  -  -  -  300 
St.  Michael's  Geneseo,  Livingston  co.,            -  -     500 

1835,  Christ  Church,  Danby,  Tompkins  co.,  -  -  250 
St.  Paul's,  Tompkinsville,  Staten  Island,          -  -  2000 

1833,    Christ  Church,  Oswego,             -         -         -  -       1000 

Christ  Church,  Walton,  Delaware  co.,             -  -     500 

St.  Peter's,  Oriskany,  Oneida  co.,       -         -  -         500 

The  Apostolic  Church,  Geddes,  Onondaga  co.,  -     500 

St.  James,  Hammond  Port,  Steuben  co.,      -  -         500 

St.  Thomas's,  Bath,  Steuben  co.,    -         -         -  -     500 

St.  Paul's,  Durham,  Greene  co.,          -         -  -         500 

St.  Paul's,  Brownville,  Jefferson  co.,       -         -  -     500 

Trinity,  Fredonia,  Chatauque  co.,        -         -  -         500 

St.  Paul's,  Big  Flats,  Tioga  co.,    -         -         -  -     500 

Calvary,  Homer,  Cortland  co.,             -         -  -         500 

Christ  Church,  Morristown,  St.  Lawrence  co.,  -     500 

1835,    Zion  Church,  Avon,  Livingston  co.,    -         -  -         500 

Christ  Church,  Lockport,  Niagara  co.,             -  -1000 

St.  John's  Fort  Hamilton,  Kings  co.,           -  -         500 

Trinity  Church,  Centreville,  Ontario  co.,         -  -     300 

St.  John's,  Medina,  Orleans  co.,          -         -  -       1500 


3S4 


HISTORY    OF 


IS  53,    St.  John's,  Troy, 1000 

St.  Thomas',  Mamaroneck,         ....         300 

1836,  do  do  500 

Calvary,  New-York, 1600 

18  57,         do        ann.  all.  of  $400  from  1837  to  1842,         -2000 

1842,         do  do  $300  from  1842  to  1846,      -       1200 

1836,  Emmanuel  Church  at  Otsego,  Otsego  co.,  -  -  750 
St.  Paul's,  Holland  Patent,  Onondaga  co.,  -  750 
Trinity,  Potsdam,  St.  Lawrence  co.,  ...  1500 
St.  John's,  Ellicotsville,  Cattaraugus  co.,  -  -  600 
Christ  Church,  Oyster  Bay,  L.  I.,  ...  600 
St.  George's,  Astoria,  -  -  -  -  -  1000 
St.  Paul's,  Waterloo,  Seneca  co.,             ...     250 

1837.  do  do  do  ...         400 
1833,    St.  Paul's,  Sing  Sing,  Westchester  co.,  -         -  2000 

Trinity,     rooklyn,  L.  I.,  -  -  -  -        1500 

St.  Paul's,  Lewistown,  Niagara  co.,        ...     600 
St.  Paul's,  Peekskill,  Westchester  co.,         -         .         750 
1837,         do  do  do  ...     250 

1833,    St,  Mirk's,  Candor,  Tioga  co.,  -         .         .         400 

St.  Luke's,  Half  Moon,  Mechanicsville,  Saratoga  co.,  350 
St.  Paul's,  Hoboken,  N.  J.,  -  -  -  .        1000 

St.  John's,  Mount  Morris,  Livingston  co.,  -  -  750 
St.  James',  Batavia,  Genesee  co.,  -  -  .  1000 
St.  Peter's,  Bainbridge,  Chenango  co.,  -         -     300 

St.  Stephen's,  Olean,  Cattaraugus  co.,  -  -  750 
Christ  Church,  Paterson,  Putnam  co.,  -         -     750 

St.  Mark's,  Penn  Yann,  Yates  co.,  ■»  1000 

Trinity,  Fayetteville,  Onondaga  co.,  -  -  -  400 
Zion,  Palmyra,  Wayne  co.,         ....  500 

1837,    St.  Paul's,  Saratoga,  -         .         -         -         .     100 

St.  Barth  lomow's,  N.  Y.,  ann.  all.  ol  $600  from  1837  to  Dec. 

12,  1S42,         - 3,300 

, 20,000 

1812,   Am.,  all.  of$300,  from  Dec.  12, 1842,  to  May  1,1846,   1,050 
1843,         do      of  $300  from  May  1  to  Nov.  1,  -         -     300 

24,650 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW-YORK.  385 

1837,  St.  George's,  Hempstead,  ....         500 

St.  John's,  Cold  Spring  Harbour,  ...     500 

Trinity,  West  Troy, 800 

200 

St.  John's,  Johnson's  Settlement,  Chemung  co.,  -  300 
Christ  Church,  Tarry  town,  Westchester  co.,  -  1000 

1837,  St.  Anne's,  Port  Jackson,  Montgomery  co.,  -       1500 

1838,  do  do  do  -  500 
St.  Paul's,  Poughkeepsie,            ....       2500 

1839,  do  do  2500 

St.  Paul's,  Waterloo,  Seneca  co.,  -  -  -  400 
St.  Peter's,  Peekskill,  W.  C,  -  -  -  -  1000 
St.  Paul's,  Flatbush,  King's  co.,  L.  I.,  -  -  1000 
St.  Peter's,  Lithgow,  Dutchess  co.,  -  -  -  200 
Grace,  Lyons,  Wayne  co.,  ....       2000 

1838,  Church  of  the  Messiah,  N.  Y.,  ann.  all.  of  $300  to  commence 
Dec.  1,  1837,  .......         300 

1839,  $150  paid,  -         -  -         -         -         -     150 

Ann.  all.  to  commence  anew  from  Oct.  1,  1838. 

1838,     Church  of  the  Annunciation,  N.  Y.,  ann.  all.  of  $600  from 

1838  to  1842, 2400 

1839, 6000 

1842,    Ann.  all.  of  $400,  from  1842  to  1846,         -         -       1600 


$9,400 

St.  Luke's,  Brooklyn, 1500 

1843,   Church  of  the  Redemption,  N.  Y.,       -         -         -         375 

1844  to  1846,         -         -         - 800 

1845,    St.  Mark's,  Williamsburgh,  L.  I.,  ann.  ail.  of  $300,  from  May 
1,  1845,  to  Nov.  1,  1846, 450 

1845,  Prot.  Ep.  Ch.  Miss.   Society  for  seamen,  ann.  all.  of  $250, 

from  1844  to  1846, 500 

1846,  Additional  allowance  of  $250,  from  Nov.  1,  1S46. 

1845,  St.  Simon's,  N.  Y., 200 

1846,  do  do  200 

1845,  Holy  Apostles',  N.  Y., 300 

1846,  do  do 5000 

St»  George  the  Martyr,  N.  Y,,  -     250 


386  HISTORY    OF    TRINITY    CHURCH. 

1846,  Church  of  the  Messiah,  N.  Y.,  ...         125 
St.  Luke's,  Rossville,  Staten  Island,        -         -         -  1500 

Christ  Church,  Troy, 2500 

Chapel  for  Soldiers,  on  Governor's  Island,  appropriation  made, 
but  not  yet  paid,  -  ...     500 

Christ  Church,  Sag  Harbour,  -         -         -         500 

Christ  Church,  Marlborough,  Ulster  co.,         -         -     300 
Grace,  Cherry  Valley,  Otsego  co.,  -         -         300 

St.  Thomas',  Hamilton,  Madison  co,  -         -     300 

St.  James',  Fort  Edward,  Washington  co.,  -         300 

St.  Mark's,  Malone,  Franklin  co.,  -         -         -     400 

Church  of  the  Cross,  Ticonderoga,  Essex  co.,      -         400 
St.  Paul's,  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess  co.,        -         -     500 

1847,  Church  of  St.  George  the  Martyr,  N.  Y.,  -  250 
Church  of  the  Good  Shepherd,  N.Y.,  -  -  -  200 
St.  Mark's,  Williamsburgh,        ....         200 

The  aggregate  amount  of  the  gifts,  loans  and  grants  of  Trinity 
Church,  rating  the  lands  at  their  present  prices,  considerably  exceeds 
TWO  MILLIONS  OF  DOLLARS,  a  sum  more  than  equal,  in  the 
opinion  of  competent  judges,  to  two-thirds  of  the  value  of  the  estate 
which  remains. 

The  income  of  this  remaining  part,  however,  bears  no  proportion 
to  its  actual  value.  About  one-half  of  it  was  leased  out  at  an  early 
period  on  mere  nominal  rents,  amounting  only  to  8400  per  annum. 
It  is  also  encumbered  with  a  heavy  debt  of  about  8440,000,  the  annual 
interest  upon  which  is  $24,802  31-100.  And  the  gross  revenue  of 
the  Corporation  of  Trinity  Church,  from  ground  rents,  pew  rents,  and 
every  other  source,  has  neA'er,  in  any  one  year,  reached  a  higher  point 
than  857,932  37-100,  leaving  a  net  income  of  only  $33,130  2-100, 
(much  less  than  that  of  several  wealthy  individuals  in  this  great 
metropolis,)  to  meet  the  ordinary  expenses  of  the  Parish,  the  annual 
allowances  to  most  of  the  Churches  in  this  City,  and  the  extravagant 
expectations  of  those,  both  here  and  elsewhere  throughout  the  State, 
who  seem  to  think  that  there  is  no  limit  to  its  means. 


THE    OLD    EPISCOPAL   BOOKSTORE. 


CATALOGUE 


EPISCOPAL  WORKS, 

PUBLISHED  BY 


i. 


f;VP 


*:-     '  u 


TRINITY    CHURCH 


STANFORD  &  SWORDS, 

(LATE  SWORDS,  STANFORD  &  CO.,) 

NO.  139,  BROADWAY,  NEW-YORK. 

Qrstctbltsljcit  in  17S7. 


STANFORD  &  SWORDS  beg  leave  to  inform  their 
friends  and  the  public,  that  they  continue  to  keep  on  hand, 
as  in  former  years,  a  general  assortment  of  Religious  Works, 
suitable  for  individuals,  for  Parish  and  Family  Libraries,  and 
for  the  Clergy,  which  they  will  dispose  of  on  the  most  rea- 
sonable terms.  Having  an  agent  in  London,  they  offer  their 
services  to  the  public  for  the  importation  of  books,  pam- 
phlets, &c,  which  can  be  obtained  through  them  on  as  low 
terms  as  at  any  other  establishment  in  the  country.  The 
clergy  can  at  all  times  find  upon  their  shelves  a  great  variety 
of  old  books  at  low  prices. 

Bibles  and  Grayer-Books, 

Of  every  size  and  description  of  binding.  Also,  the  Church  Lesson? 
in  convenient  forms.  Bibles  and  Common  Prayer  Books  for  the  Desk. 
in  Folio  and  Quarto,  constantly  on  hand.  Gaines'  edition  of  the  Folio 
Prayer  Book,  in  substantial  binding,  reduced  to  $3. 

Among  the  Books  published  by  them  in  aid  of  Christian 

knowledge  and  piety,  are  the  following : 

GOOD  MAN'S  LIFE.  Records  of  a  Good  Man's  Life,  by  Rev.  C.  B. 
Taylor.     12mo.  75  cents.     A  golden  book. 

THE  NEW  MANUAL  OF  DEVOTIONS.  —  Edited  by  the  Rt.  Rev. 
Bishop  Ives,  of  North  Carolina.     1  vol.  12mo.     Price  $1. 

THE  CHRISTIAN'S  MANUAL  of  Faith  and  Devotion.— Edited  by  the 
late  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Hobart.     1  vol.  62§  cents. 

THORNTON'S  FAMILY  PRAYERS,  with  a  Commentary  on  our  Lord's 
Sermon  on  the  Mount.  Edited  bv  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Eastburn- 
1  vol.  12mo.     Price  75  cents. 

BICKERSTETH'S  TREATISE  On  me  Lord's  Supper.  Enlarged  and 
improved  by  the  author,  and  edited  by  the  Rev.  L.  P.  W.  Balch, 
Rectci  of  St.  Bartholomew's  Church,  New  York.     1  vol.  12mo.  75cts. 

THE  COMPANION  FOR  THE  ALTAR :  Or  Week's  Preparation  for 
the  Holy  Companion.  By  the  late  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Hobart.  lveL 
Price  50  cents. 

THE  COMMUNICANT'S  MANUAL.  By  the  same.  A  neat  pocket 
volume.     Price  lSf  cents.     Morocco  gilt,  37£  cents. 

THE  LIFE  AND  POSTHUMOUS  WORKS  of  the  late  Right  Rev.  Bish- 
op Hobart.     Edited  by  the  Rev.  Wm.  Berrian,  D.  D.     3  vols.  8va 

$4  5U. 

THE  LIFE  AND  SERMONS  of  the  late  Right  Rev.  Nathaniel  Bow- 
en,  D.  D.  of  South  Carolina,  and  formerly  of  Grace  C'uuruh,  New- 
York.    2  vols.  8vo.  $4- 


Valuable  Works,  published  by  Stanford  Sf  Swords. 


PALMER'S    CHURCH    HISTORY. 

A  COMPENDIOUS  ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY, 

FROM  THE  EARLIEST  PERIOD  TO  THE  FRESENT  TIME. 
BY  THE  REV.  WILLIAM  PALMER,  M.  A., 

AUTHOR  OF  "  OBIGINES  L1TVRGICJE,''  &C. 

WITH  PREFACE  AND  NOTES  BY   AN  AMERICAN   EDITOR. 

In  one  volume.     12mo.     50c. 

"  The  truly  learned  and  sound-minded  author  has  set  himself  honestly  to  seek  out  the 
results  of  the  system  devised  by  Heavenly  Wisdom,  and  set  in  operation  by  God  himself, 
when  He  dwelt  among  us.  He  does  not  puzzle  himself  and  his  reader  with  an  attempt  at 
a  '  pragmatical '  investigation  of  the  human  motives  and  propensities  that  have  carried  on, 
while  they  seemed  to  thwart  and  vitiate,  the  divine  counsels  for  man's  salvation.  Still 
less  does  he  stocp  to  natter  the  poor  pride  of  human  reason  by  lowering  a  narrative  of 
God's  doings  with  and  in  his  Church  io  the  tone  of  secular  history,  and  making  all  plain 
and  easy  for  the  most  unspiritual  comprehension.  He  writes  as  a  believer  of  the  facts  that 
he  narrates  ;  but  not  a  believer  without  investigation.  He  writes  as  one  whose  own  be- 
lief makes  him  in  earnest  with  his  reader,  and  in  consequence  leaves  the  impression  ol 
reality  on  the  mind.  Convinced  that  God  did  indeed  found  his  Church  upon  a  rock, 
immoveable  and  unconquerable,  he  looks  for  it,  without  fear  or  shrinking,  amid  the  worst 
of  tempests  of  controversial  strife  or  secular  oppression,  and  under  the  deepest  mists 
of  ignorance  and  error,  and  not  only  finds  it,  signalized  by  its  unvarying  tokens  of  peace, 
holiness  and  joy,  but  makes  it  obvious  to  others.  We  see,  with  him,  that  though  times  havo 
changed,  and  manners  varied,  the  word  and  promise  of  God  have  endured  unchanged,  and 
their  accomplishment  has  gone  on  invariably." — Bishop  Uliittingham. 

RECORDS  OF  A  GOOD    MAf^'S  LIFE5 

BY  THE 

REV.  CHARLES  B.  TAYLER,  M.  A. 
One  handsome  volume.     12mo.    75c 

••  This  is,  indeed,  a  '  golden  book  ' — one  that  cannot  be  read  without  as  much  profit  a* 
pleasure  by  all  who  feel  interest  in  the  Ufe  of  a  good  country  parson.  The  narrative  ex- 
hibits the  character  of  a  man  who  was  distinguished,  not  for  talent  or  learning,  but  for 
bein<*  in  earnest,  and  heartily  endeavoring  to  live  up  to  his  Christian  profession— with 
whom  baptism  was  not  a  form,  but  the  commencement  of  a  life  of  Christian  faith."  — 
Banner  of  the  Cross. 

"  An  elegant  reprint  of  a  volume  endeared  to  many  a  heart  by  a  thousand  charms  of 
style,  sentiment,  and  pious  meditation.  The  loveliness  of  humanity  passing  through  the 
stages  of  life  under  the  influence,  and  illuminated  by  the  divine  light  of  the  pure  precepts 
of  the  Gospel,  the  surpassing  beauty  of  holiness  exhibited  in  the  character  of  woman  as  a 
Christian  wife  and  mother,  and  the  manly  dignity  and  nobleness  of  the  Christian  father 
and  husband,  are  all  here  exhibited  so  sweetly,  so  truthfully,  so  eloquently,  as  to  touch 
the  soul  of  the  most  obdurate.  We  trust  all  our  readers  are  so  familiar  with  these  pages, 
as  to  feel  the  justice  of  our  praise,  and  to  seize  eagerly  the  opportunity  of  again  meeting 
an  old  and  beloved  companion." — Protestant  Churchinan. 

HOBARTS    FESTIVALS    AND    FASTS. 

A  Companion  to  the  Festivals  and  Fasts  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  ChurcV 

in  the  United  States  of  America.     Principally  selected  and  altered 

from  Nelson's  Companion  for  the  Festivals  and  Fasts  of 

the  Church  of  England. 

WITH  FORMS  OF  DEVOTION. 
BY   JOHN    HENRY    HOBART,    D.    D., 

BISHOP  OF  THE  DIOCESE  OF   NEW-YORK. 

One  volume.     12mo.     75c. 

"  It  will  prove  a  useful  companion  in  the  exalted  exercises  of  the  Christian  life; 
and,  while  it  serves  to  impress  on  the  members  of  the  Episcopal  Communion  the  excel- 
lence of  their  truly  Apostolic  and  Primitive  Church,  it  must  excite  them  to  adorn  thou 
profession  by  corresponding  fervor  of  piety  and  sanctity  of  manners." 


Devotional  Works,  published  by  Stanford,  fy  Swords. 

WILBERFORCE'S    PRAYERS. 

FAMILY  PRAYERS, 

BY  THE  LATE 

William  wilberforce,  esq. 


EDITED  BY   HIS  SON, 

ROBERT  ISAAC  WILBERFORCE,  M.  A. 

TO  WHICH  ARE  ADDED, 

PRAYERS  BY  THE  REV.  JOHN  SWETE,  D.  D. 
One  volume  ISmo.  cloth.     25c. 

"  That  the  habit  of  family  devotion  is  not  inconsistent  with  the  most  zealous  and  unre- 
mitted discharge  of  public  duty  is  evinced  by  the  example  which  the  author  of  these  Pray- 
ers all'orded.  His  singular  union,  indeed,  of  private  religion  and  public  usefulness,  may  in 
great  measure  be  attributed  to  that  state  of  mind  of  which  this  custom  was  at  once  a  cause 
and  a  consequence.  The  Grecian  colonists,  whose  more  polished  manners,  and  the  sim- 
plicity of  whose  native  speech,  were  endangered  through  the  contaminations  of  barbarian 
intercourse,  by  assembling  at  stated  seasons,  to  confess  their  degeneracy,  and  revive  the 
thought  of  purer  times,  retained  as  well  the  language  which  was  their  common  bond,  as  the 
superiority  which  was  the  birth-right  of  their  lace.  Amidst  the  increasing  turmoil  of  our 
days,  the  custom  of  daily  worship  may  be  looked  to  by  Christians  for  a  similar  result.  It 
has  been  shown,  indeed,  that  this  practice  comes  commended  by  the  experience  of  former 
times.  But  if  it  were  needed  in  a  period  of  quiet  and  repose,  how  much  more  amidst  the 
agitation  by  which  our  cities  are  now  convulsed,  and  which  shakes  even  the  villages  of 
our  land  !  In  tranquil  days,  the  disciples  were  comforted  by  the  presence  of  Christ ;  but 
it  was  amidst  the  waves  of  Gennesaret  that  they  learned  to  appreciate  that  power  which 
could  hush  the  stormy  elements  into  rest.  It  was  when  neither  sun  nor  stars  for  many 
days  appeared,  and  no  small  tempest  lay  upon  him,  that  the  captive  apostle  could  he 
of  good  cheer,  because  there  was  with  him  the  augel  of  that  God,  whose  he  was  and  whom 
he  served." 


THORNTQNS'S     PRAYERS. 

FAMILY  PRAYERS, 

PRAYERS  ON  THE  TEN  COMMANDMENT'S. 

TO  WHICH  IS  ADDED, 

A  FAMILY  COMMENTARY    UPON  THE  SERMON  ON  THE  MOUNT. 

BY  THE    LATE 

HENRY  THORNTON,  ESQ.,  M.  P. 

EDITED  BY   THE 

RIGHT  REV.  MANTON   EASTBURN,  D.  D., 
Bishop  of  Massachusetts. 

One  handsome  volume.     1  2  m  o  .      75c. 

"  The  present  volume  contains  two  works,  which  have  been  separately  published  in  Eng. 
land  ;  the  Family  Commentary  ou  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount  having  appeared  there,  about 
a  year  after  the  lir.st  edition  of  the  Family  Prayers.  The  arrangement  now  adopted  wil 
it  is  thought,  be  found  convenient  for  domestic  worship  ;  as  combining  within  the  sains 
volume  a  Manual  of  prayer,  and  portions  of  scriptural  exposition  for  reading. 

"  It  may  seam  presumptuous  in  the  Editor  to  say  any  thing  by  way  of  introduction  to 
productions  bearing  on  their  title-page  the  name  of  Thornton  : — a  name,  familiar  not  to 
England  only,  but  to  the  world  ;  and  indissolnbly  associated  with  our  thoughts  of  whatever 
is  enlarged  in  Christian  beneficence,  sound  in  religious  views, and  beautiful  in  consistency 
of  daily  practice.  He  will  t  ike  the  liberty,  however,  of  simply  saying,  that  in  regard  to 
the  Family  Prayers,  that,  without  at  all  detracting  from  the  merit  of  other  works  of  the 
same  description,  they  appear  to  him  to  preserve,  in  a  remarkable  degree,  the  difficult  and 
happy  medium  between  verboseness  on  the  one  hand,  and  a  cold  conciseness  on  the  other. 
It  is  believed  that  mine  can  use  them,  without  feeling  that  they  impart  a  spirit  of  grati- 
tude and  self-humiliation.  They  are  what  prayers  should  be, — fervent,  and  yet  perfectly 
simple. 

"  The  Commentary  upon  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount,  is  remarkable  throughout  for 
the  profound  insight  into  human  nature  which  it  manifests:  for  its  clear  exhibition  of  the 
fundamental  truths  of  the  gospel :  and  for  the  faithfulness,  honesty,  and  at  the  same  tune, 
the  true  refiueuieut  aud  dignity,  of  the  language  in  which  its  instructions  are  conveyed. "* 


Devotional  Works,  published  by  Stanford  iy  Swords. 


TREATISE  ON  THE  LORD'S  SUPPER, 

DESIGNED  AS   A  GUI  DK  AM) 

COMPANION  TO  THE  HOLY  COMMUNION. 
BY  THE   REV.  EDWARD  BICKERSTETH, 

Edited,  and  adapted  to  Ike  Service*  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 

in  the   l '"  -ted  States, 

BY  THE  REV.   LI. WIS  P.  W.  BALCH, 

Rector  of  Si.  Bartholomew's  Church,  N.  Y. 

One  handsome  volume.     Y2mo.     75c. 
CONTENTS.— Part  I.— ChaD.  I.  The  Vppointment'of  the  Lord's  Supper 

—2.  The  Atonement  ma  le  by  tue  Death  of  Christ— 3.  Our  Faith  in  Christ's 
Atonement — 4.  On  the  New  Covenaut-r-5.  The  Design  of  the  Lord's  Supper 
--(i.  The  Obligation  to  Receive  the  Lprd's  Supper— 7.  Answers  to  the  Ex- 
cuses commonly  made  for  uol  Coming  (o  the  Lord's  Supper — 8.  On  Receiv 
in»  Unworthily— 9.  On  the  Benefits  connected  with  a  Due  Reception  of  the 
Lord's  Supper — 10.  The  Happiness  which  would  follow  its  General  and 
Devon!  Observance — 11.  On  Communion  with  Christ  and  His  People  on 
i;ar!li — 12.  On  the  Heavenly  Communion  to  be  Hereafter  enjoyed  with 
our  Lord.  Part  II.— Chap.' 1.  On  Preparation  for  the  Lord's  Supper— 2. 
Helps  for  Self-Examination,  and  Prayers— 3*  Meditations  Preparatory  to 
the  Lord's  Supper.— 4.  Hints  for  the  Regulation  and  Employment  of  the 
Mind  .luring  the  Communion  Service — 5.  On  the  Communion  Service  of  the 
Church— fi.  On  the  Remembrance  of  Christ  at  the  Lord's  Table — 7.  Medi- 
tations during  the  Communion — 8.  Texts  selected  for  Meditation,  and 
arranged  under  dim-rent  Heads— 9  Meditations  and  Prayers  after  Receiving 
— 10.  Psalms  and  Hymns  suited  to  the  Lord's  Supper — 11.  The  Due  Im- 
provement of  the  Lord's  Supper. 

"  It  is  indeed  a  cause  of  devout  thankfulness,  that  hooks  liki  '  Bickersteth's  Treatise 
on  tlie  Lord'.-  Supper  '  are  in  such  demand.  And  a  fervent  Prayer  is  offered  to  God,  that 
every  effort  to  enlighten  tiie  hearts  of  men  on  the  subject  of  the  Holy  Communion,  may 
receive  His  gracious  blessing,  until  the  time  come  when  all  'shall  be  devoutly  and  reji- 
giously  disposed  to  receive  the  most  comfortable  sacrament  of  the  Body  and  Blood  of 
Christ,  in  remembrance  of  His  meritorious  Death  and  Passion,  whereby  alone  we  obtain 
remission  of  our  sins,  and  are  made  partakers  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven.'  " 


NEW    MANUAL  OF    DEVOTIONS, 

IN  THREE  PARTS: 
Containing  Prayersfor  Families  and  Private  Persons:  Offices  of  Humiliation 
— for  the  Sick — for  Women — for  the  Holy  Communion — with  Oc- 
casional  Prayers. 

CORRECTED  AND  ENLARGED  BY     THE  RIGHT  REV 

LEVI    SILLIMAN    IVES,    D  .  D  . , 

Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  North-Carolina. 

TO  WHICH    IS  ADDED. 

A  FRIENDLY   VISIT  TO    TlfE   HOUSE  OF    MOURNING. 

BY  THE  REV.   RICHARD  CECIL,  M.  A. 

One  large    \2mo.   volume.     $1.00. 

"  The  volume  hero  presented  to  the  public,  contains  forms  suited  to  all 

conditions  in  which  human  beings  may  bt  placed,  and  almost  all  conceivable 

variations  of  their  circumstances,  in  a  style  well  adapted  to  the  simplicity  ol 

sincere  aud  genuine  piety." 


Valuable  Works,  published  by  Stanford  Sf  Swords. 


MELVILL'S    SERMONS. 

SERMONS  BY  HENRY  MELVILL,  B.    »., 

Minister  of  Camden  Chapel,  Camberwell,  and  late  Fellow  and  Tutor  of  St.  I    *r'a  College-, 
Cambridge. 

EDTTED  BY  THE  RT.  REV.  C.  P.  M'lLVAINE,  D.   % 

Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  Diocese  of  OIu». 

Fourth  edition.   One  volume ,  royal  8vo.     $2,50. 

This  volume  contains  all  the  sermons  yet  published  by  the  author,  v>r  audor  his  sanc- 
tion. .Many  others  have  been  published  stu-reptitiouslij,  which  he  never  prcpured  for  tho 
press,  anil  which  ought  not  to  be  read  as  specimens  of  his  preaching. 

A  strong  attestation  of  the  merit  of  these  discourses  is  given  in  the  fact,  that  floodea  4B 
is  the  market  with  the  immense  variety  of  pulpit  composition  which  the  London  press 
continually  pours  in,  so  that  a  bookseller  can  scarcely  be  persuaded  to  publish  a  volume 
of  sermons  at  his  own  risk,  and  such  a  volume  seldom  reaches  beyond  a  single  edition, 
those  of  Molvill  have  passed  through  several,  and  do  not  cease  to  attract  much  attention. 

"  Heartily  do  we  admire  the  breathing  words,  the  b"ld  figures,  the  picturesque  images, 
the  forcible  reasonings,  the  rapid,  vivid,  fervid  perorat.ons,  of  these  discourses.'"— British 
Critic. 


COMPANION    FOR    THE    ALTAR, 

WEEK'S    PREPARATION 
HOLY    COMMUNION: 

Consisting  of  a  Short  Explanation  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  Meditations  m>J 

Prayers  proper  to  be  used  Before  and  During  the  Receiving  of 

the  Holy  Communion;  according  to  the  Form  prescribed 

by    the    Protestant    Episcopal    Church    in    the 

United  States  of  America. 

BY  JOHN  HENRY  HOBART,  D.  D.. 

Bishop  of  the  Prot.  Epis.  Church  in  the  State  of  New- York. 
In  one  volume.  12mo.  50c. 
'  The  writer  has  endeavored  to  keep  in  view  two  principles,  which  he 
deems  most  important  and  fundamental.  These  principles  are — That  we  are 
saved  from  the  guilt  and  dominion  of  sin  by  the  divine  merits  and  grace  of 
a  crucified  Redeemer:  and  that  the  merits  and  grace  of  this  Redeemer  are 
applied  to  the  soul  of  the  believer  in  the  devout  and  humble  participation  of 
the  ordinances  of  the  Church,  administered  by  a  Priesthood  who  derive  their 
authority  by  regular  transmission  from  Christ,  the  Divine  Head  of  the  Church, 
and  the  source  of  all  power  in  it." 

Perhaps  no  other  commendation  of  this  work  is  needed  than  the  fact, 
that  since  its  first  publication,  in  1304,  it  h;is  successfully  withstood  the 
competition  of  all  other  works  on  the  same  subject,  has  passed  through  almost 
countless  editions,  and  is  still  steadily  increasing  in  the  favor  of  the  pious 
and  devout. 


JERRAM    ON    INFANT    BAPTISM. 

CONVERSATIONS  ON  INFANT  BAPTISM. 
BY    CHARLES   JFRRAM,    VICAR    OF    CHOBHAM,    SURRY. 

One  volume.     18//ze».      37c. 

These  Conversations  furnish  a  complete  view  of  the  whole  controversy,  and  a  moat  con 
•iiuive  defence  of  Infant  Baptism. 


Devotional  Works,  published  by  Stanford  6f  Swords. 


JENKS'    DEVOTIONS, 

ALTERED  AND  IMPROVED 

BY  THE  REV.  CHARLES  SIMEON,  M.  A., 

FELLOW  OF  KING'S  COLLEGE,  CAMBRIDGE. 

From  the  Z3d  London  edition.  One  volume.  18mo.  50c. 
"  Its  distinguishing  excellency  is,  that  far  the  greater  part  of  the  Prayers  appear  to  have 
been  prayed  ami  not  written.  There  is  a  spirit  of  humiliation  in  them,  which  is  admira- 
bly suited  to  express  the  sentiments  and  feelings  of  a  contrite  heart.  There  is  also  a 
fervor  of  devotion  in  them,  which  can  scarcely  fail  of  kindling  a  corresponding  flame  ta 
the  breasts  of  those  who  use  them.  But  it  is  needless  to  pronounce  an  eulogy  on  a  book, 
the  value  of  which  has  been  already  tested  by  the  sale  of  many  myriads:' 

NELSON    ON    DEVOTION. 

THE  PRACTICE  OF  TRUE  DEVOTION, 

IN  RELATION  TO  THE  END,  AS  WELL  AS  THE  MEANS  OF  RELIGION* 
WITH   AN   OFFICE   FOR    THE   HOLY  COMMUNION: 

BY  ROBERT  NELSON,  ESQ. 
One  volume.     Y&mo.     50c. 


HOBART'S    CHRISTIAN'S    MANUAL. 

THE  CHRISTIAN'S   MANUAL 
OF    FAITH    AND    DEVOTION, 

Con  aining  Dialogues  and  Prayers  suited  to  the  Various  Exerercises  of  the 
Christian    Life,  and  an  Exhortation  to   Ejaculatory  Prayer,  with 
Forms  of  Ejaculatory  and  Other  Prayers. 

BY  JOHN  HENRY  HOBART,  D.  D., 

BISHOP  OF  THE  DIOCESE  OF  NEW-YORK. 

One  thick   IS  mo  .  volume  .     63c. 
"  Its  object    is  to  exhibit   and  enforce  the  various  exercises,  duties,  and 
privileges  of  the  Christian  life,  to  awaken  the  careless;  to  excite  the  luke- 
warm ;  and  to  instruct  and  comfort  the  penitent  believer." 

THE    COMMUNICANT'S    MANUAL. 

CONTAINING  THE  ORDER   FOR  THE  ADMINISTRATION   OF 

THE  HOLY  COMMUNION. 
BY  THE  LATE  BISHOP  HOBART,  OF  NEW-YORK. 

TO.WH1CH    ARE  ADDED 

PRAYERS  AND  MEDITATIONS, 
BY  BISHOPS  TAYLOR,   BEVERIDGE,  AND  OTHERS. 

A  beautiful  miniature  edition.     31c. 


PASSION   WEEK: 

THREE  SERMONS  OF  LANCELOT  ANDREWES, 

BISHOP  OF  WINCHESTER, 

ON    THE    PASSION   OF   OUR  LORD. 

TO  WHICH  ARE  ADDED 

EXTRACTS    FROM    HIS    DEVOTIONS. 

One  volume.      Y&mo.     38c. 

■*  The  author  was  a  man  of  prayer,  'full  of  faith  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost;'  his  thought! 
were  often  of  the  things  of  God,  and  his  life  was  of  as  high  an  order  as  his  thoughts.  Ii 
to  style  is  somewhat  old,  yet  it  is  full  of  life  and  point,  and  the  matter  rich  ;  and  to  bilk 
who  feels  aright,  his  theme  is  ever  new,  and  though  common  always  stirring." 


SECKER'S  LECTURES  on  the  Church  Catechism.  1  vol.  l2mo.  R? 
its.   Also  Five  Sermons  Against  Popery,  bj  the  same  Author     2&  cu. 

LEARN  TO  LIVE,  also  Learn  to  Die.  By  Christopher  Sutton-, 
O.D.     12mo.  $1.  eacn. 

PRACTICAL  CHRISTIAN,  or  the  Devout  Penitent;  A  book  of  De- 
votion, containing  the  whole  Duty  of  a  Christian,  on  all  occasions  and 
necessities;  fitted  to  the  main  use  of  a  Holy  Life.  By  R.  Sherlock,  D.  D 
12mo      $1. 

HAPPY  OLD  AGE,  Exemplified  in  the  Life  of  Mrs.  Bolton.  1  vol 
32mo.     IS* 

CHURCHMAN'S  HEAVENLY  HOURS:  or  Daily  Approacnes  to 
God :  in  a  series  of  Meditations  and  Hymns,  selected  by  the  most  emi 
lent  Writers.     1  vol.  32mo.  gilt.  37£  cts. 

THE  PORTRAITURE  OF  A  CHRISTIAN  GENTLEMAN.  By 
W.  Roberts,  Author  of  Life  of  Hannah  More.    1  vol.  l2mo.  37*  cts 

MEMOIRS  OF  REV.  JOHN  STANFORD,  D.  D.  By  Rev.  Charles 
G.  Sommers,  together  with  an  Appendix;  comprising  Brief  Memoirs  61 
the  Rev.  John  Williams,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Baldwin,  D  D.  and  the 
Rev.  Richard  Sherman,  D.  D.,  wit'.,  a  portrait  of  Dr.  Stanford.  1  vol 
12mo.     75  cts. 

SIMEON'S  SERMONS.  The  Offices  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Four  Ser- 
mons preached  before  the  University  of  Cambridge.  By  Rev.  Charles 
Simeon,  M.  A.      i  vol.  12mo.    37 £  cts. 

THE  DOUBLE  WITNESS  OF  THE  CHURCH.  By  the  Rev.  Wwt 
Ingram  Kip,  M.  A.     12mo.  Also,  The  Lenten  Fast.     By  the 

same  Author. 

MEMORIAL  OF  REV.  DR.  BAYARD,  late  Rector  of  St.  Clement 
Church,  New. York.     1  vol.  12mo. 

MY  SAVIOUR:  or  Devotional  Meditations  on  the  Name  and  Titles 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.     By  the  Rev.  John  East     ISmo.  50.  cts. 

HOBART'S  EDITION  OF  D'OYLY  &  MANT'S  BIBLE, 

according  to  the  Authorised  Version:  with  Notes,  Explanatory  and  Prac- 
tical; taken  principally  from  the  most  eminent  writers  of  the  United 
Churches  of  England  and  Ireland :  together  with  Appropriate  Introduc- 
tion, Tables  and  Index.  Prepared  and  arranged  by  the  Rev.  George 
D'Ovly,  B.  D.  and  the  Rev.  Richard  Mant,  D.  D. :  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge;  for  the  use  of 
Families;  with  a  large  number  of  Additional  Notes ;  selected  and  arrang- 
ed by  John  Henry  Hobart,  D.  D.,  late  Bishop  of  the  Plot.  Epi9. 
""lurch  in  the  State  of  New- York — buind  in  2  and  3  vols.  Also  the 
t*  2W  Testament  separately.  1  vol.  !$2  50.  This  work  should  be  in  every 
L.Uirch  family.  It  embodies  within  itself  a  complete  Library  of  Prac- 
tical divinity,  furnishing  the  opinion  on  sacred  subjects  of  nea/lj  2U0 
Divines  of  the  Church  of  England  and  America. 


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